Kentucky

WATER FLUORIDATION STATUS:

• PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE FLUORIDATED:
  2018:  99.8% – ranked #2 among the states (100% fluoridated is ranked #1)
  2016:  99.9%
  2014:  99.9%
  2012:  99.9%
  2006:  99.8%
  2000:  96.1%
  1992:  100%
• To see if your town is fluoridated, click here.
• To learn when your town was fluoridated, and which fluoridation chemical it uses, click here.

KENTUCKY FLUORIDE DATA FOR EACH WATER SYSTEM

• 2020: Levels of Fluoride in the State’s Drinking Water and Fluoridation Status.

LATEST NEWS:

• To see the latest news on fluoride developments in Kentucky, click here.
• To see an updated list of Kentucky’s professionals calling for an end to fluoridation, click here.
• 2010: Oral Health Status of Older Adults in Kentucky: Results from the Kentucky Elder Oral Health Survey

Kentucky’S FLUORIDATION LAW:

• Kentucky Revised Statutes Annexed § 211.190, clearly delegate powers to the State Board of Health to adopt regulations necessary to protect the dental health of the people. Under this law, Kentucky established standards for approval of public water supplies.  Administrative regulations states that fluoridation is required for all communities with a population of 1,500 or more.  To learn more about this administrative code, click here.

DATA ON ORAL HEALTH:

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• The above graph comes from the report, Making Smiles Happen: 2016 Oral Health Study of Kentucky’s Youth – the first oral health study of Kentucky’s children since 2001. No mention of dental fluorosis in the report. See article on report.
  

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• 2006. Statewide Oral Health Strategic Plan -­2006. The Commonwealth of Kentucky. No mention of dental fluorosis.
  

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• 2004. Kentucky Epidemiologic Notes & Reports. May.
  

  “On December 19, 2003  the “Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report” reported that Kentucky, from the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data, was number one in toothlessness among our older adult citizens (> 65 years of age). In fact, 42.3% of Kentuckians 65 years and older were toothless, they had lost all their natural teeth…”

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• 2007. Kentucky’s Oral Health Poses Challenges. By Michael T. Childress and Michal Smith-­Mello. Foresight, No. 50. No mention of dental fluorosis.
  

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• 2008. Using Cartograms to Illustrate Disparities in Oral Health in Kentucky. By Saman DM, Arevalo O, Johnson AO. University of Kentucky. No mention of dental fluorosis.

  “Kentucky ranks second in the number of completely edentulous older adults, third in adults with any permanent teeth extracted, and sixth in the prevalence of individuals not visiting a dentist or dental clinic within the past year for any reason (1). Though Kentucky has a high rate of water fluoridation (2), teeth cleanings and dental sealants comparable to the nation’s, it still has a higher rate of caries experience and untreated caries among children…”

FLUORIDE POLLUTION SOURCES IN KENTUCKY:

• See TRI data for 2014-2016 for Hydrogen Fluoride releases.

• In 2008, Kentucky ranked #6 out of 48 states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (2,920,832 pounds) into the environment. Kentucky industry also released 6,879 pounds of Fluorine. The following data comes from EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). “Total releases” includes both water and air pollution. It’s important to note, however, that not all industries or sources that release fluoride into the environment are included in the TRI.