Recognizing community water fluoridation as a safe, effective public health intervention to prevent tooth decay and promote oral and physical health.

Key Points

• Congress is looking at a proposal to officially support adding fluoride to drinking water. This is meant to show that the government believes this practice is safe and helps keep people's teeth healthy. It comes as a response to some states recently deciding to stop adding fluoride to their water.
• The proposal explains that tooth decay is a serious health issue that can lead to painful infections and expensive hospital visits. Right now, about 1 in 4 adults has cavities that haven't been treated. This costs the U.S. healthcare system hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
• Adding fluoride to water can reduce cavities by about 25%. It is also a big money-saver for families and the government. For every $1 spent on putting fluoride in the water, communities save about $20 in dental bills. Across the whole country, this saves about $6.5 billion a year.
• This resolution encourages cities and states to keep their water fluoridated at the levels recommended by health experts. It also supports more research and teaching people about why dental health is important for their overall well-being.

Impact Analysis

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