subject: Dental Health Care, The Goal Of The Fluoridated Water Program [print this page] As much as $100 million a year may be slashed from the United States' dental health bills, as estimated by the American dental association if water all throughout the nation were fluoridated. And this well may be on the way. A campaign by The Department of Health and Welfare has been started to provide assistance for the fluoridating of about 438 community water systems and 100 school water systems The 6,800 communities or 46% of the population that are experiencing benefits from water fluoridation would be added to because of this.
A survey showed that, despite its widespread practice, water fluoridation and its uses are unknown to 76 million adults, which is about 51% of the country's population. 43 million adults mistakenly believe that the purpose of fluoridation is to remove pollutants or purify water for drinking. Of those who get water from public water systems, around 45 million are stumped as to whether or not their drinking water has fluoride.
Education for the public to understand how fluoridation prevents tooth decay will be strengthened by this government drive. We have long known how to repair decayed teeth, but prevention of the decay has emerged only in the past quarter century. By swallowing sodium fluoride regularly as a child, one can reduce the chances of developing tooth decay by up to 65% and also enjoy the benefits of improved dental health continuing until adulthood.
Fluoridating water supplies has been given more significant analysis than any other health measure in history. Research and experience in the community for more than three decades have shown how beneficial and safe fluoridation is. The possibility of children getting tooth decay may be reduced by about two thirds if they drink fluoridated water from the time they are born. Many of these children can be completely free of decay. Drinking fluoridated water will cut down expenses for children's dental health care.
Even those who are not kids are getting things to their own benefit. Teens who come from fluoridated communities do not suffer from cavities as much as teens who come from non fluoridated communities. The government is currently on the lookout for economies as it endorses fluoridation as a necessary step to dental health improvement. The government support will be a boon to communities lacking adequate resources to fluoridate on their own.
It would cost around $2 billion dollars for dental treatment each year since 95% of kids are affected by dental disease. Polio immunization and fluoridation are regarded as the most beneficial of preventive measures in health. Making an investment of 25 cents a year will reduce costs for teeth restoration by about $12 for every child. The Public Health Service spent an amount of not more than $200,000 a year for the promotion of fluoridation.
Yet, ironically, in the same span, $9 million annually was spent to support other research strategies to reduce dental cavities. Fluoridation of milk and bread were among the many alternatives. On a whole, fluoridating milk would cost more and be more impractical than fluoridating water. It is unfortunate for those children who don't drink milk for reasons such as lactose intolerance or allergies since they would not be able to enjoy fluoridation's benefits. Fluoridation, proper nutrition, and good hygiene are effective preventive measures to ensure improvement in dental health.
