© 2025 American Dental Association l 133
Why Water Personnel are Oral Health Heroes
Fluoride Facts for
Water Operators
Community water fluoridation is a time-tested, cost-effective, and equitable solution
for optimal oral health.
Good oral health is essential to overall health. Children with cavities suffer from pain, infections, and poor nutrition.
An average of 34 million hours of school are lost per year in the U.S. because of dental problems. Poor oral health
in adults also results in pain, infection, and tooth loss, along with difficulty obtaining a job due to the appearance of
their teeth, and lost work hours. Dental problems result in a $46 billion/year loss of production to the U.S. economy.1
More than 80 years of research and practical experience shows optimal fluoridation of water supplies helps prevent
cavities. Studies prove water fluoridation continues to reduce tooth decay by more than 25% in children and adults,
even with the use of other fluoride products like toothpaste.1
The benefits of community water fluoridation are recognized by the American Medical Association, American Water
Works Association (AWWA), U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The CDC, AAP, and AWWA also provide fluoride information for
water operators.2, 3, 4
Rules and recommendations for water facilities are designed to ensure operator and public safety.4
• OSHA requires Safety Data Sheets (SDS) be prepared by the manufacturers and suppliers of additive
products. Each water facility should have the most current SDS sheets for the products they use. SDS sheets
describe safe handling and use procedures of all materials.
• With the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), an operator will not have hazardous exposure
to fluoride additive products. Fluoride additives present risks comparable to other water additives commonly
used such as hypochlorite, quicklime, aluminum sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and ferrous sulfate. In some cases,
the fluoride additives are much less dangerous than many other additives, including chlorine gas.
• The process of adding fluoride to water has little impact on the acidity or pH of drinking water
and therefore will not corrode water pipes.
continued »
Water facilities and water
operators perform a valuable public
service by carefully adjusting the level
of fluoride in water to improve the oral
health of their community.
Almost 73% of
the U.S. population on
community water systems
(209 million people)
receive the benefits of
fluoridation.5
Learn more at:
ADA.org/fluoride
Why Water Personnel are Oral Health Heroes
Fluoride Facts for
Water Operators
Community water fluoridation is a time-tested, cost-effective, and equitable solution
for optimal oral health.
Good oral health is essential to overall health. Children with cavities suffer from pain, infections, and poor nutrition.
An average of 34 million hours of school are lost per year in the U.S. because of dental problems. Poor oral health
in adults also results in pain, infection, and tooth loss, along with difficulty obtaining a job due to the appearance of
their teeth, and lost work hours. Dental problems result in a $46 billion/year loss of production to the U.S. economy.1
More than 80 years of research and practical experience shows optimal fluoridation of water supplies helps prevent
cavities. Studies prove water fluoridation continues to reduce tooth decay by more than 25% in children and adults,
even with the use of other fluoride products like toothpaste.1
The benefits of community water fluoridation are recognized by the American Medical Association, American Water
Works Association (AWWA), U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The CDC, AAP, and AWWA also provide fluoride information for
water operators.2, 3, 4
Rules and recommendations for water facilities are designed to ensure operator and public safety.4
• OSHA requires Safety Data Sheets (SDS) be prepared by the manufacturers and suppliers of additive
products. Each water facility should have the most current SDS sheets for the products they use. SDS sheets
describe safe handling and use procedures of all materials.
• With the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), an operator will not have hazardous exposure
to fluoride additive products. Fluoride additives present risks comparable to other water additives commonly
used such as hypochlorite, quicklime, aluminum sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and ferrous sulfate. In some cases,
the fluoride additives are much less dangerous than many other additives, including chlorine gas.
• The process of adding fluoride to water has little impact on the acidity or pH of drinking water
and therefore will not corrode water pipes.
continued »
Water facilities and water
operators perform a valuable public
service by carefully adjusting the level
of fluoride in water to improve the oral
health of their community.
Almost 73% of
the U.S. population on
community water systems
(209 million people)
receive the benefits of
fluoridation.5
Learn more at:
ADA.org/fluoride
