Since 2008, an additional 15 million people have gained access to community water fluoridation in the U.S. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some 74.6% (210.7 million) of the U.S. population on community water systems had access to fluoridated water in 2012 -- an additional 15 million people since 2008.
The report shows significant progress from the Healthy People 2020 baseline of 72.4% (2008) toward the target of 79.6%, according to Linda Orgain, MPH, of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
The CDC considers water fluoridation one of the greatest public health achievements in the 20th century. Evidence shows that the prevalence of tooth decay is substantially lower in communities with water fluoridation.
Years of research by myriad public health agencies -- including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, CDC, ADA, World Health Organization, and National Cancer Institute -- and nonpartisan groups such as the Pew Research Center have demonstrated that fluoridation is a safe and effective way to prevent caries, especially among children and underserved populations who have limited access to dental care.
