The Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) today announced the release of the Fluoride Legislative User Information Database, the first publicly available database on the legal status of community water fluoridation in the United States. A comprehensive online compilation of court decisions, laws, and policies related to community water fluoridation, the database contains information from all 50 states and U.S. territories.

“FLUID is a versatile and easy-to-use tool that will allow states and municipalities to research and compare their current or proposed policies with others across the country and make informed decisions based on legal fact,” stated CDHP Executive Director Catherine Dunham. “It provides policy makers with critical information they need to make thoughtful and informed decisions.”

The database, which can be accessed at www.fluidlaw.org, was developed through a partnership between the Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) and the American University Washington College of Law. Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the original project was initiated through a co-operative agreement with CUNY Hunter College School of Nursing. The American University Washington College of Law’s Health Law and Policy Project will oversee all ongoing research on policy and legal cases to be included in FLUID.

“CDC considers community water fluoridation to be one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century,” stated Dr. William Bailey, DDS, MPH, Acting Director of CDC’s Division of Oral Health. “We are committed to providing states and communities with the education, consultation, and technical assistance they need to maintain and expand their fluoridation efforts.”

For further information and assistance, please contact Colin Pekruhn, CDHP Senior Policy Analyst at 202-833-8288 or cpekruhn@cdhp.org.

About the Children’s Dental Health Project

Founded in 1997, the Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) is a national non-profit organization with the vision of achieving equity in children’s oral health. CDHP designs and advances research-driven policies and innovative solutions by engaging a broad base of partners committed to children and oral health, including professionals, communities, policymakers and parents. We work to eliminate barriers to preventing tooth decay to ensure that all children reach their full potential. Pediatric dentist Dr. Burton Edelstein founded CDHP to be the voice for children and their oral health. The organization was purposefully named a “Project” to reflect the reality that tooth decay is a solvable problem. As an alternative to efforts that treat one child at a time, CDHP works on solutions that impact all children and their oral health. For more information, visit www.cdhp.org

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