What CDC Is Doing

What to know

CDC encourages the effective use of fluoride products and community water fluoridation to benefit all members of the community, regardless of age, education, or income.

CDC's blue logo.

Overview

For more than 75 years, community water fluoridation has been one of the most practical, cost-effective, fair, and equitable measures that communities can take to improve residents’ oral health and made substantial contributions to narrowing oral health disparities.1

CDC has been the lead agency in water fluoridation since 1975, and an objective for water fluoridation has been included among the Healthy People national objectives since 1979.

Keep Reading: Timeline for Community Water Fluoridation

CDC's role

CDC funding supports infrastructure in states to promote water fluoridation, monitor coverage and quality of fluoridation, and develop resources for training and public awareness.

CDC provides technical assistance to state fluoridation programs for fluoride engineering, facility management, and monitoring coverage and quality of fluoridation practice.

CDC also serves as a resource to other federal agencies, state programs, professional organizations and associations, and the public.

Water Operators and Engineers ‎

CDC offers trainings for water operators and engineers.

Gathering data

CDC receives data from states on the number of people who have access to this crucial public health intervention. Data are provided by states on a voluntary basis and may not be reported annually.

Water systems that adjust the fluoride content in their water to the optimal level for cavity prevention also perform testing to monitor fluoridation quality. These data are reported to CDC's Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS).

Fluoride in My Community‎

Interested in knowing the fluoride content of your water? The best source of information on the fluoride level of your drinking water is your local water provider.

Recent publications

Hamilton EK, Griffin SO, Espinoza L. Effect of CDC adjustment of state-reported data on community water fluoridation statistics. J Public Health Dent. 2023; 83(3):320–324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12579

Boehmer TJ, Lesaja S, Espinoza L, Ladva CN. Community water fluoridation levels to promote effectiveness and safety in oral health — United States, 2016–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(22);593–596. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7222a1

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP); CDC Division of Oral Health
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Achievements in public health, 1900–1999: fluoridation of drinking water to prevent dental caries. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999;48(41):933–940.