12 l © 2025 American Dental Association
Section 1: Effectiveness and Benefits
4. How much fluoride is in your water?
Answer
If your water comes from a public or community water supply, options to learn the fluoride level
of the water include contacting the local water supplier or the local, county, or state health
department reviewing the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) issued by your local water supplier
and using the CDC’s Internet-based “My Water’s Fluoride.” If your water source is a private well, it
will need to be tested, with the results obtained from a certified laboratory.
Fact
The fluoride content of the local public or community water system can be obtained by contacting the
local water supplier or the local, county, or state health department. The name of your water system
might not be the same as the name of your community.
In 1999, the EPA began requiring water suppliers to make annual drinking water quality reports accessible
to their customers. Available prior to July 1 each year for the preceding calendar year, these CCRs,
or Water Quality Reports (WQR),84 can be mailed to customers, placed in the local newspaper, or
made available through the Internet. To obtain a copy of the report, contact the local water supplier.
If the name of the community water system is unknown, contact the local health department.
Two sites on the Internet supply national information on the water quality of community water systems.
The online source for WQRs or CCRs is the EPA website85 and the CDC’s fluoridation website, “My
Water’s Fluoride.”86 The latter website allows consumers in currently participating states to learn the
fluoridation status of their water system. It also provides information on the number of people served
by the water system, the water source, and whether the water system is naturally fluoridated or the
fluoride level in the water supply is adjusted.86
The EPA does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. However, the EPA
recommends that private well water be tested once a year.87 For the most accurate results, a state-
certified laboratory that conducts drinking water tests should be used for fluoride testing. For a list
of state-certified laboratories, contact the local, county, or state water or health department.
The EPA does not specifically recommend testing private wells for the level of fluoride. However, if a
household with a private well has children under 16 years of age, their health care providers will need
to know the fluoride level of the well water prior to considering a prescription of dietary fluoride
supplements75 or to counseling patients about alternative water sources to reduce the risk of
fluorosis if the natural fluoride level is above 2 mg/L.
Dietary fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, or lozenges) are available only by prescription in the United
States and are intended for use by children ages 6 months to 16 years living in non-fluoridated areas and
at high risk of developing tooth decay. A dentist or physician can prescribe the correct dosage.75
Additional information on this topic can be found in this Section, Question 12 and in the Safety
Section, Questions 21, 27, 28, and 29.
Section 1: Effectiveness and Benefits
4. How much fluoride is in your water?
Answer
If your water comes from a public or community water supply, options to learn the fluoride level
of the water include contacting the local water supplier or the local, county, or state health
department reviewing the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) issued by your local water supplier
and using the CDC’s Internet-based “My Water’s Fluoride.” If your water source is a private well, it
will need to be tested, with the results obtained from a certified laboratory.
Fact
The fluoride content of the local public or community water system can be obtained by contacting the
local water supplier or the local, county, or state health department. The name of your water system
might not be the same as the name of your community.
In 1999, the EPA began requiring water suppliers to make annual drinking water quality reports accessible
to their customers. Available prior to July 1 each year for the preceding calendar year, these CCRs,
or Water Quality Reports (WQR),84 can be mailed to customers, placed in the local newspaper, or
made available through the Internet. To obtain a copy of the report, contact the local water supplier.
If the name of the community water system is unknown, contact the local health department.
Two sites on the Internet supply national information on the water quality of community water systems.
The online source for WQRs or CCRs is the EPA website85 and the CDC’s fluoridation website, “My
Water’s Fluoride.”86 The latter website allows consumers in currently participating states to learn the
fluoridation status of their water system. It also provides information on the number of people served
by the water system, the water source, and whether the water system is naturally fluoridated or the
fluoride level in the water supply is adjusted.86
The EPA does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. However, the EPA
recommends that private well water be tested once a year.87 For the most accurate results, a state-
certified laboratory that conducts drinking water tests should be used for fluoride testing. For a list
of state-certified laboratories, contact the local, county, or state water or health department.
The EPA does not specifically recommend testing private wells for the level of fluoride. However, if a
household with a private well has children under 16 years of age, their health care providers will need
to know the fluoride level of the well water prior to considering a prescription of dietary fluoride
supplements75 or to counseling patients about alternative water sources to reduce the risk of
fluorosis if the natural fluoride level is above 2 mg/L.
Dietary fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, or lozenges) are available only by prescription in the United
States and are intended for use by children ages 6 months to 16 years living in non-fluoridated areas and
at high risk of developing tooth decay. A dentist or physician can prescribe the correct dosage.75
Additional information on this topic can be found in this Section, Question 12 and in the Safety
Section, Questions 21, 27, 28, and 29.
