ATLANTA, Aug. 16 — Federal health officials warned Thursday that 100 million Americans are at risk for dental disease because they aren’t getting enough fluoride in their drinking water.

In 1999, the CDC listed water fluoridation among the 10 greatest public health milestones of the 20th century, crediting the process with huge reductions in tooth decay among Americans.

THE CENTERS for Disease Control and Prevention said it issued new recommendations in part because of the surge in popularity of bottled water in the past decade.

Although some bottled waters marketed in the United States contain an optimal amount of fluoride, most contain only a fraction of the one part per million recommended concentration.

The CDC also recommends labeling bottled water for its fluoride content. Current FDA regulations require that fluoride be listed on the label only if the bottler adds fluoride during processing; the concentration of fluoride is regulated but does not have to be stated on the label. Few bottled water brands have labels listing the fluoride concentration.

Fluoride can prevent, slow and in some cases reverse tooth decay.

In 1999, the CDC listed water fluoridation among the 10 greatest public health milestones of the 20th century, crediting the process with huge reductions in tooth decay among Americans.

“Although these declines have been dramatic, there are still some areas of the country that are not receiving the benefits of water fluoridation,” CDC director Jeffrey Koplan said.

In 2000, 12 states did not provide access to fluoridated public water to at least half of their populations: California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Hawaii.

To learn the fluoride concentration of community drinking water, a resident can contact the water supplier or a local public health authority or dentist.

The CDC recommends between 0.7 and 1.2 parts per million fluoride in drinking water. Among the other guidelines:

* Limited use of fluoride supplements for children in communities with low fluoride concentration in their drinking water.

* Brushing teeth at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.

* Guarding against overuse of fluoride by children younger than 6, which can cause a condition that produces white lines and spots on teeth.

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