The American Dental Therapy Association supports the use
of fluoride as a safe, effective way to strengthen teeth
and help prevent tooth decay. Here's why. 

 ADTA Statement on Water Fluoridation
March 2025

Let’s talk about Fluoride

The American Dental Therapy Association supports the use of fluoride as a safe, effective way to strengthen teeth and help prevent tooth decay. Fluoridated water has been in use in the United States since 1945, when the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan added fluoride to its water supply. Today, more than 70% of the U.S. population receives fluoridated water.

Current legislation in Utah, Texas, Tennessee, North Dakota, New Hampshire and Florida seeks to restrict or ban the use of fluoride in public water supplies. These are important conversations and we encourage communities and their legislators to rely on evidence-based information when educating themselves about the use of fluoride in drinking water.

Fluoridating public water is widely recognized by health organizations as an effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, is added to drinking water in controlled amounts to help strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. The benefits of water fluoridation are supported by substantial scientific evidence.

Did you Know?

Fluoride in drinking water has been shown to significantly reduce the prevalence of dental caries (cavities) in both children and adults. Studies have consistently demonstrated that communities with fluoridated water experience lower rates of tooth decay compared to those without it.

Extensive research and decades of observation support the safety of water fluoridation at recommended levels. Public health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Dental Association (ADA) endorse water fluoridation.

Fluoridation of public water is a cost-effective method for preventing dental disease, particularly for communities with limited access to dental care. The cost savings from reduced dental treatments significantly outweigh the costs of fluoridating water.

Fluoride in public water helps address health disparities by providing a low-cost preventive measure that benefits all residents, regardless of income or access to dental care.

Fluoridated water benefits both children and adults by strengthening the tooth enamel and preventing decay. The effect is particularly important in young children, as it helps to protect developing teeth from cavities.

What the Research Shows

Fluoride reduces the prevalence of tooth decay among young children by 25%. (Source: CDC’s Community Water Fluoridation Facts)

Calgary ended water fluoridation in 2011. Since then, 700% more children there have needed intravenous antibiotics to avoid fatal dental infection, and “the city is now working to upgrade systems to turn the fluoride back on in 2025 after citizens mobilized to add it back.” (From truthout.org: Tooth Decay Rose in Canadian Cities Without Fluoride. RFK Wants This for the US.)

From the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Campaign for Dental Health: “More than 6,800 studies and research papers have been produced on fluoridation, and the overwhelming evidence shows its safety and benefits. Water fluoridation has been and continues to be thoroughly evaluated to ensure the health of those who benefit from it.”