Water Fluoridation Facts and Information
Water Fluoridation
Fluoridation is a safe, effective, and economical way to improve dental health for the entire community.
Fluoride, one of the most plentiful elements on earth, occurs naturally in water supplies. When fluoride is present in drinking water at optimal levels, it has been shown to promote oral health by preventing tooth decay. Water fluoridation is the addition of small amounts of fluoride to a water supply to achieve a fluoride level that helps prevent tooth decay.
California's fluoridated drinking water act, Assembly Bill 733, became law in 1995, requiring water systems with 10,000 or more service connections to fluoridate once funding is available.
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Fluoridation Information
- All drinking water naturally contains some fluoride. Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the naturally occurring fluoride level to the optimum level for preventing tooth decay.
- Adults, as well as children, benefit from drinking fluoridated water throughout their lives.
- More than half (62%) of the U.S. population lives in communities served by fluoridated water supplies.
- Community water fluoridation has the endorsement of every major health organization in the United States and many other countries, as well as every Surgeon General for the past 50 years.
- Every $1 spent on fluoridation saves $120 in dental treatment costs.
- Fluoridation will not change the taste, odor or appearance of your water.
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Where Supplemental Fluoridation Occurs
The Evergreen Community approved fluoridation in the early 1960’s with an advisory vote. Shortly thereafter, San José Municipal Water System began adding fluoride to the treated water we receive from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD). SCVWD is the wholesale water provider for SJMWS's Evergreen service area.
In late 2005, San José Municipal Water System (SJMWS) began supplying fluoridated water to our North San José/Alviso customers, when San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) implemented system-wide fluoridation. SFPUC is the wholesale water provider for SJMWS's North San José/Alviso service area.
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Fluoridation Benefits People of All Ages
Drinking fluoridated water, as part of your diet, will provide about 60 percent of the protection necessary to fight against cavities. Fluoride works to strengthen tooth enamel so teeth become more resistant to decay, and it reverses newly formed cavities.
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Fluoridation Safety
Extensive research conducted over the past 50 years has shown that fluoridation of public water supplies is a safe and effective way to reduce tooth decay for all community residents.
The overall value and safety of community water fluoridation is endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by the U.S. Surgeon General. Community water fluoridation is endorsed by numerous public health and professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Association of Public Health, U.S. Public Health Service, World Health Organization and the American Dental Association.
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Other Local Communities With Fluoridated Water
San Francisco residents and customers on the northern Peninsula have been receiving optimally fluoridated water since the early 1950s to promote dental health.
Several water districts or utilities deliver fluoridated water, including the City of Hayward, Alameda County Water District, City of Mountain View, City of Palo Alto and Stanford University.
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Contacts
Information on fluoride in your drinking water:
San José Municipal Water System (408) 277-3671
Health-related Information:
Santa Clara County Health Department at (408) 885-3980
General Information:
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (866) 668-6008
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Web Sites
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
American Dental Association
California Department of Health Services
Center for Disease Control
North Coast Fluoride Information Network
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