Making fluoridated water available to Ohioans is the single most important step a community can take to improve the dental health of its residents, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Making fluoridated water available to Ohioans is the single most important step a community can take to improve the dental health of its residents, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Recognizing the importance of fluoridated water to a community’s oral health, the Delta Dental Foundation has funded the state’s Fluoridation Assistance Program (FAP) since 2012.

In 2016, the Foundation committed $50,000 for the program to continue.

“Community water fluoridation is critical for good oral health,” said Teri Battaglieri, Delta Dental Foundation director. “Fluoridation can help fight tooth decay in children and adults and has been shown to decrease dental disease throughout the U.S.”

The purpose of the FAP is to provide financial and technical assistance to communities, enabling them to fluoridate their water systems to the optimum level necessary to prevent dental disease. Presently, 92 percent of the state’s population served by community water systems is enjoying the benefits of fluoridated water.

The FAP assists public water supply systems by reimbursing a portion of the cost to purchase new or replacement fluoridation equipment and/or supplies.

Officials from the Ottawa County Public Water System said the funding to implement the fluoridation is “one of the most cost effective investments that the State of Ohio can make to promote the dental health of our communities.”

For more information about the program, visit http://www.odh.ohio.gov/en/odhprograms/ohs/oral/oralprev/reimbprg.aspx.

About Delta Dental Foundation
The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980, which serves as the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina. The Foundation’s goals are to support education and research for the advancement of dental science and to promote the oral health of the public through education and service activities, particularly for those with special needs. For more information, visit http://www.deltadentaloh.com.

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