Community Water Fluoridation

• Fluoride prevents cavities and builds healthy teeth.
• Fluoride is nature's cavity fighter, a safe and naturally occurring element found in all water sources.
• All the water supplied to Santa Cruz County contains natural levels of fluoride, but not enough to prevent cavities.
• Water fluoridation adjusts the amount of fluoride in a community's water to the best level that prevents cavities.

• Water fluoridation, which has been safely consumed by the public for nearly 55 years, is strongly endorsed by dental and medical authorities as safe, effective and beneficial.
• Studies show that water fluoridation can reduce the amount of cavities children get in their baby teeth by as much as 60% and can reduce tooth decay in adult teeth by nearly 35%.
• Adding fluoride to the water ensures that all people in the community benefit, regardless of age, income, education or access to dental care.
• Water fluoridation provides dental benefits that continue for a lifetime.

More Water Fluoride Facts

• Water fluoridation is the least expensive and most effective way to prevent cavities.
• The average cost to the consumer for the protection of fluoridated water is estimated at 95 cents a year per person - less than the cost to have one cavity treated.
• The California Dental Association has estimated that every dollar invested in water fluoridation saves approximately $140.00 in dental bills.
• California taxpayers could save as much as $385 million in dental care costs after five years of community water fluoridation.

• Today, more than 195 million people in the United States drink fluoridated water - 64.3% of the U.S. population. In California, 58.8% of people with public water systems receive fluoridated water.
• Local organizations dedicated to our well being who support fluoridation:
  • Santa Cruz County Medical Society
  • Santa Cruz Health Services Agency
  • Community Action Board
  • Community Bridges
  • Santa Cruz County Senior Commission
• Fluoridation of community water supplies is a valuable public health measure supported by the American Dental Association, the World Health Organization, the US Public Health Service, the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society.

"The Monterey Bay Dental Society recognizes the benefits of water fluoridation in safely preventing dental decay. It's a powerful strategy in our community's efforts to safely and effectively eliminate the many health disparities in Santa Cruz County."
Rick McBride, DDS
President of Monterey Bay Dental Society

"Community Water Fluoridation is recognized as the single most effective public health measure to reduce tooth decay in children as well as adults. It is clearly one of the safe and proven means of defense that our community deserves to have at its disposal."
David R. McNutt, M.D., M.P.H.

"The Santa Cruz Medical Society has long advocated water fluoridation as a safe and effective means of preventing dental caries. The dental benefits of fluoridation improve oral health over a lifetime, for both children and adults."
Dr. Martina Nicholson M.D.

"Dental Decay is a neglected epidemic. In order to effectively prevent dental decay, our community needs to place community water fluoridation at the very heart of quality oral health."
Laurie Hester
Health and Nutrition Coordinator
Santa Cruz County Head Start