Fluoridation among top 10 public health achievements of 20th Century
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that 86 Iowa communities have received a Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to an optimal level for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes communities that maintained a consistent level of optimally fluoridated water throughout 2009.
Fluoride is a natural element found in rocks, soil, and water. Fluoride’s benefits for teeth were discovered in the 1930s. Dental scientists found low tooth decay rates among people whose water supplies contained natural fluoride. In communities of 20,000 people, every $1 invested in water fluoridation results in $38 of savings in dental treatment costs.
The CDC has recognized community water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century and recommends water fluoridation as a safe, effective, and inexpensive method of preventing tooth decay. Even so, fluoridation opponents have unsuccessfully attempted to end community water fluoridation in Iowa City and Dubuque this year. Next month, the Des Moines Board of Water Works Trustees will discuss the continued practice of fluoridation of the public water supply.
IDPH is a strong supporter of fluoridation programs. The IDPH Fluoridation Program monitors the fluoridation of public water supplies, assists and trains water system operators, and helps communities with fluoridation projects. To see the fluoridation status of Iowa counties and towns, visit http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/fluoride_search.asp . For more information on fluoride, visit http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/common/pdf/oral_health/benefits_flouride.pdf .
Goldfield
Lake Mills
Rock Valley
Pocahontas
Paullina
Pella
Wapello
Maquoketa
Churdan
Manchester
Iowa American Water Clinton
Carroll
Belmond
Sloan
Forest City
Tama
Sioux Center
Montezuma
Minden
Polk City
Laurens
Fonda
Hinton
Sibley
Sheldon
Onawa
Rock Rapids
Whittemore
University Water System
Holstein
Garner
Conrad
Charles City
Ringsted
Dubuque
Spirit Lake
Leon
Manilla
Stanwood
Griswold
West Central RWA-Boyer
Allison
Boone
Sioux City
Carlisle
Iowa American Davenport
Graettinger
Muscatine
Chariton
Fairfax
Logan
Central Water System
Dexter
Lakes Regional Water
Greenfield
Manly
Thompson
Kalona
Ames
Elkhorn
Treynor
Carson
Des Moines Water Works
Gilmore City
Kingsley
Shenandoah
Sutherland
Sanborn
Marshalltown
Keokuk
Bancroft
Bellevue
Cresco
Britt
Floyd
Arlington
Estherville
Terril
Milford
Redfield
Ventura
Mechanicsville
Coon Rapids
West Central RWA-Nishnabotna
Madrid
Waukon
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