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Many of our country’s top experts on Public Health Dentistry are assembled this week in scenic Huntsville, Alabama for the 2013 National Oral Health Conference.  At yesterday’s opening ceremony, United States Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin expressed her strong support for community water fluoridation.  The press release from the American Dental Association can be found below.

Do you know if your hometown water supply has fluoride added to it?  Salem, Beverly and Danvers were among the first Massachusetts cities to add fluoride to their community water supply and have been fluoridated communities since 1952.  Marblehead and Swampscott began adding fluoride to their community water supply in 1978.  Peabody and Lynn have been fluoridated communities since 1983.  Click here to see the full list of 140 Massachusetts cities and towns with fluoride added to the public water supply.

Surgeon general endorses fluoridation

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, M.D., April 22 officially endorsed community water fluoridation as “one of the most effective choices communities can make to prevent health problems while actually improving the oral health of their citizens.”  Dr. Benjamin made her endorsement via a letter read at the opening ceremony at the National Oral Health Conference in Huntsville.

“Fluoridation’s effectiveness in preventing tooth decay is not limited to children, but extends throughout life, resulting in fewer and less severe cavities,” Dr. Benjamin wrote. “In fact, each generation born since the implementation of water fluoridation has enjoyed better dental health than the generation that preceded it.”

Every surgeon general for the past 50 years has endorsed community water fluoridation of community water supplies as a safe and effective weapon in the war against tooth decay.

The American Dental Association has supported fluoridation since 1950.

“The ADA’s policies regarding community water fluoridation are based on the best available science showing that fluoridation is a safe, effective way to prevent dental decay,” said ADA President Robert A Faiella. “The ADA, along with state and local dental societies, continues to work with federal, state and local agencies to increase the number of communities benefiting from this very effective public health measure. We applaud Dr. Benjamin for making this public endorsement of fluoridation.”

Dr. Benjamin’s letter to the National Oral Health Conference is available on ADA.org.

Source:  American Dental Association