What Are the Benefits of Water Fluoridation? • Studies show water fluoridation reduces cavities by at least 25% in children and adults. It especially benefits people who are not able to get regular dental care. • It saves money. The average lifetime cost per person to fluoridate a water supply is often less than the cost of one dental filling. • It is safe and effective. Fluoride, similar to calcium and sodium, is another mineral that contributes to a healthy body. • It’s easy! You can help protect your teeth simply by drinking fluoridated water, anytime, anywhere. Water Fluoridation Is Safe More than 70 years of study and experience have shown that water fluoridation is safe. Fluoridation of community water is supported by leading health organizations, including the American Dental Association (ADA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). How Do I Know If My Water Is Fluoridated? To find out if the tap water in your area contains fluoride at a level that can help prevent cavities, ask your dentist. You also can contact your community’s water supplier. If you have a private water well, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you test your water every year for safety. These water tests can include fluoride levels. Fluoride for Children Children under 3 years Begin brushing the teeth of your children under the age 3 years as soon as teeth begin to come into the mouth. Use no more than a grain-of-rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the brush. Watch children to make sure they don’t swallow the toothpaste. Children ages 3 to 6 years Put no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush. Help your child brush and teach him or her to spit out the toothpaste and not swallow it. Children under 6 years Fluoride mouth rinses are not recommended for children under 6 years. Parents should keep an eye on children under 6 years when they use any dental product with fluoride. More fluoride is not always better. These products should be stored out of the reach of young children. Most bottled waters do not have the levels of fluoride needed to help prevent cavities. If you drink bottled water often, you may be missing the benefits of fluoridation. To learn about the fluoride level in the water, check the label. If it is not listed, you should contact the manufacturer. For children under three years old For children three to six years old Have more questions? Visit MouthHealthy.org fluoride for the latest information about fluoride and fluoridation. Other Sources of Fluoride Not everyone lives in an area with fluoridated water. For those people, fluoride is available in other forms. If your community’s water does not have fluoride, talk to your dentist or physician about your family’s fluoride needs. Fluoride Supplements Fluoride pills, drops and lozenges are for children between 6 months and 16 years old who live in areas with little or no fluoride in the water and are at high risk of tooth decay. For best results, these fluoride products should be used every day until the child is 16 years old. Ask your child’s dentist or physician about your child’s fluoride needs. Supplements are available only by prescription. Over-the-Counter Fluoride Products Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses with the ADA Seal of Acceptance help prevent cavities in children and adults. When you shop for dental products, look for the ADA Seal so you know that a product is safe and effective. You and your children should brush your teeth twice a day using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. LOOK FOR DENTAL PRODUCTS THAT DISPLAY THE ADA SEAL OF ACCEPTANCE. What Is the Best Way to Get Fluoride? Teeth get fluoride in two ways: • when it is swallowed • when it is put onto the tooth’s surface To prevent cavities, it is best to get a little bit of fluoride both ways. Tap Water Fluoride that is swallowed usually comes from tap water. In some parts of the U.S., the tap water naturally has just the right amount of fluoride. In other places, the tap water does not have enough fluoride. So, some cities and towns add fluoride to the tap water. This is called water fluoridation. Many communities in the U.S. adjust the level of fluoride in their public water systems to 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water (0.7 mg/L). This is the recommended level in drinking water for good oral health. Almost 75% of the people in the U.S. have public water systems that are fluoridated. Topical Fluoride When fluoride is put onto the surface of your teeth, it is called topical fluoride. Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses sold in stores are one way for your teeth to get topical fluoride. Also, your dentist can apply a fluoride gel or varnish to your teeth. Home Water Treatment Systems Your home water filter system might remove fluoride from the water. Reverse osmosis and distillation systems can remove fluoride. However, filters that come in pitchers or attach to your faucet generally do not remove a lot of fluoride. Check with the maker of the product to learn if the filter or system removes fluoride from your drinking water. BEST SELLER Fluoride: Nature’s Cavity Fighter Fluoride is safe, natural and helps prevent cavities. This resource clears up common questions about the best ways to get fluoride, fluoride safety, community water fluoridation and how much fluoride is recommended for children. It lists the benefits of fluoride and explains that before water fluoridation, children had about three times as many cavities. It lets patients know how much fluoride is safe in their drinking water and how to find out if their community water or well water contains fluoride. Help patients see fluoride as a dental health ally with this brochure. W102 English, 8 panels, 50 per pack BEST SELLER Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums This step-by-step guide discusses the importance of a home care routine in plain language. Its detailed brushing and flossing photos eliminate guesswork. Text explains the cause of decay and gum disease, motivating patients to stick with it. Points out that it is easier and less expensive to prevent disease and decay than to treat them. W135 English, 8 panels, 50 per pack W211 Spanish PERSONALIZE IT! DAB011 STANDARD BROCHURES PACKS MEMBER RETAIL 1 $28.00 $42.00 2-9 $23.80 $35.70 10+ $21.00 $31.50 ADA brochures are designed to help your patients easily understand pertinent oral health topics like fluoride. PERSONALIZED BROCHURES QTY MEMBER RETAIL 150 $82.50 $124.00 400 $196.00 $300.00 800 $360.00 $540.00 Pricing for Brochures REVISED BEST SELLER Your Smile: An Owner’s Manual Give your patients the ultimate guide for keeping their smiles healthy. This booklet covers all the basics, from brushing and flossing to nutrition to treatment for periodontal disease. Answer your patients’ most common questions with a single resource. W30220 20 pages, 50 per pack PERSONALIZE IT! DAB093 Hate to Floss? 3 Other Ways to Clean Between Your Teeth “Floss daily” is one-half of the iconic pair of instructions you give to patients along with “brush twice a day.” However, are you tired of advising patients to floss only to observe during their next appointment that they did not? Simply put, if your patients hate to floss, give them this brochure and introduce three alternatives that can be just as effective as using traditional string floss: pre-threaded floss holders, dental picks/brushes and powered interdental cleaners. Plus, these methods may be easier for them to adopt as part of their daily oral hygiene routine. W138 English, Mini-brochure, 100 per pack PERSONALIZE IT! DAB097 Personalized version is a standard-sized 6-panel brochure. We take your feedback seriously! The ADA relies on input from members to ensure we are providing the right solutions to help you successfully run your practice. We’d love to hear from you, too! Email us at catalog@ADA.org. Pricing for Mini-Brochures Pricing for Booklet STANDARD BOOKLETS PACKS MEMBER RETAIL 1 $35.00 $52.50 2-9 $29.75 $44.65 10+ $26.25 $39.35 STANDARD MINI-BROCHURES PACKS MEMBER RETAIL 1 $35.00 $52.50 2-9 $29.75 $44.65 10+ $26.25 $39.35 PERSONALIZED BOOKLETS QTY MEMBER RETAIL 150 $142.50 $214.00 400 $360.00 $540.00 800 $680.00 $1,020.00 PERSONALIZED MINI-BROCHURES QTY MEMBER RETAIL 150 $82.50 $124.00 400 $196.00 $300.00 800 $360.00 $540.00 Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums Prevention Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums Prevention El Cuidado de Sus Dientes y Su Encía Preventivo El Cuidado de Sus Dientes y Su Encía Preventivo Spanish also available! PATIENT EDUCATION 48 ORDER BY PHONE: 800.947.4746 HYGIENE ORDER ONLINE: ADACATALOG.ORG 49