Background and Benefits

Provides general information on the history and benefits of community water fluoridation.

Background on Water Fluoridationfaucet
An overview and history of community water fluoridation.

The Benefits of Fluoride
The key benefits of community water fluoridation.

Using Fluoride to Prevent and Control Dental Caries in the United States
This summary guidance explains how to achieve protection from tooth decay throughout life, while reducing the chances of developing dental fluorosis.

The Halo Effect: Quantifying the diffused benefit from water fluoridation in the United States
Griffin SO, Gooch BF, Lockwood SA, Tomar SL. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2001;29:120–129.
Demonstrates the total contribution of water fluoridation, not just to fluoridated communities but to surrounding nonfluoridated communities as well. This article helps to:

  • Explain the reason for the decrease in measurable effectiveness of fluoridation efforts over time.
  • Explain that rates of dental disease between fluoridated and nonfluoridated communities underestimate the effectiveness of community water fluoridation because nonfluoridated communities are receiving benefits from neighboring fluoridated communities.
  • Quantify the diffused benefit of community water fluoridation.
  • Explain increases in dental decay if fluoridation is discontinued by taking into account the diffusion effect.

This information obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at: http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/benefits/index.htm