© 2025 American Dental Association l 37
Fluoridation Facts
2017 Australian Government. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Information Paper—Water Fluoridation: Dental and Other Human Health Outcomes.34
2016 O’Mullane DM, Baez RJ, Jones S, Lennon MA, Petersen PE, Rugg-Gunn AJ, Whelton H,
Whitford GM. Fluoride and Oral Health.35
2016 American Water Works Association. Water Fluoridation Principles and Practices.
AWWA Manual M4. Sixth edition.36
2015 Water Research Foundation. State of the Science: Community Water Fluoridation.37
2015 Ireland Health Research Board. Health Effects of Water Fluoridation: An Evidence Review.38
2015 US Department of Health and Human Services Federal Panel on Community Water
Fluoridation. US Public Health Service Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in
Drinking Water for the Prevention of Dental Caries.39
2014 Public Health England. Water Fluoridation: Health Monitoring Report for England.40
2014 Royal Society of New Zealand and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.
Health Effects of Water Fluoridation: A Review of the Scientific Evidence.41
2013 US Community Preventive Services Task Force. The Guide to Community Preventive
Services. Preventing Dental Caries: Community Water Fluoridation.42
2011 European Commission of the European Union Scientific Committee on Health and
Environmental Risks (SCHER). Fluoridation.43
2008 Health Canada. Findings and Recommendations of the Fluoride Expert Panel.44
2007 Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council: A Systematic Review
of the Efficacy and Safety of Fluoridation Part A: Review Methodology and Results.45
The overwhelming weight of scientific evidence supports the safety of community water fluoridation.
There is a clear commitment on the part of the public health community to continue to monitor the
safety of community water fluoridation.
18. Are additional studies being conducted to determine the effects
of fluorides on humans?
Answer
Yes. Since its inception, fluoridation has undergone a nearly continuous process of re-evaluation.
As with other areas of science, additional studies on the effects of fluorides on humans can provide
insight as to how to make effective choices for the use of fluoride. The ADA and the USPHS support
this ongoing research.
Fact
For more than 80 years, detailed reports have been published on multiple aspects of fluoridation.
The accumulated dental, medical, and public health evidence concerning fluoridation has been reviewed
and evaluated numerous times by academicians, committees of experts, special councils of governments,
and most of the world’s major national and international health organizations. The consensus of the
scientific community is that water fluoridation, at the level recommended to prevent tooth decay,
safely provides oral health benefits, which in turn support improved general health. The question of
Fluoridation Facts
2017 Australian Government. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Information Paper—Water Fluoridation: Dental and Other Human Health Outcomes.34
2016 O’Mullane DM, Baez RJ, Jones S, Lennon MA, Petersen PE, Rugg-Gunn AJ, Whelton H,
Whitford GM. Fluoride and Oral Health.35
2016 American Water Works Association. Water Fluoridation Principles and Practices.
AWWA Manual M4. Sixth edition.36
2015 Water Research Foundation. State of the Science: Community Water Fluoridation.37
2015 Ireland Health Research Board. Health Effects of Water Fluoridation: An Evidence Review.38
2015 US Department of Health and Human Services Federal Panel on Community Water
Fluoridation. US Public Health Service Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in
Drinking Water for the Prevention of Dental Caries.39
2014 Public Health England. Water Fluoridation: Health Monitoring Report for England.40
2014 Royal Society of New Zealand and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.
Health Effects of Water Fluoridation: A Review of the Scientific Evidence.41
2013 US Community Preventive Services Task Force. The Guide to Community Preventive
Services. Preventing Dental Caries: Community Water Fluoridation.42
2011 European Commission of the European Union Scientific Committee on Health and
Environmental Risks (SCHER). Fluoridation.43
2008 Health Canada. Findings and Recommendations of the Fluoride Expert Panel.44
2007 Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council: A Systematic Review
of the Efficacy and Safety of Fluoridation Part A: Review Methodology and Results.45
The overwhelming weight of scientific evidence supports the safety of community water fluoridation.
There is a clear commitment on the part of the public health community to continue to monitor the
safety of community water fluoridation.
18. Are additional studies being conducted to determine the effects
of fluorides on humans?
Answer
Yes. Since its inception, fluoridation has undergone a nearly continuous process of re-evaluation.
As with other areas of science, additional studies on the effects of fluorides on humans can provide
insight as to how to make effective choices for the use of fluoride. The ADA and the USPHS support
this ongoing research.
Fact
For more than 80 years, detailed reports have been published on multiple aspects of fluoridation.
The accumulated dental, medical, and public health evidence concerning fluoridation has been reviewed
and evaluated numerous times by academicians, committees of experts, special councils of governments,
and most of the world’s major national and international health organizations. The consensus of the
scientific community is that water fluoridation, at the level recommended to prevent tooth decay,
safely provides oral health benefits, which in turn support improved general health. The question of
