The issue of fluoridation, or adding fluoride to drinking water supplies, has been in the news lately. A U.S. district court judge in California recently issued a requirement for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to re-examine optimal fluoride levels in drinking water.

In his ruling, the judge said, “this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health,” and noted that the EPA’s “regulatory action can range from requiring a mere warning label to banning the chemical.”

North American water systems have added fluoride, a naturally occurring element, to their water supplies since 1945 to help prevent tooth decay. Since that time, child cavity rates have declined by 20-40% where fluoridation has been implemented, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).

The fluoridation of drinking water is recommended by the ADA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) proclaimed fluoridation to be one of the top 10 greatest public health achievements of the past century because of its contribution to the decline in tooth decay.

Fluoride's effect is topical. It keeps the tooth enamel strong by preventing the loss of important minerals.

According to the CDC, “Bacteria in the mouth produce acid when a person eats sugary foods. This acid eats away minerals from the tooth’s surface, making the tooth weaker and increasing the chance of developing cavities. Fluoride helps to rebuild and strengthen the tooth’s surface, or enamel. Water fluoridation prevents tooth decay by providing frequent and consistent contact with low levels of fluoride. By keeping the tooth strong and solid, fluoride stops cavities from forming and can even rebuild the tooth’s surface.”