Community Water Fluoridation
For 75 years, people in the United States have been drinking water with added fluoride and enjoying the benefits of better oral health. Because of its contribution to the large decline in cavities in the United States since the 1960s, CDC named community water fluoridation one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
Water fluoridation is a safe and cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay. The CDC states that for every $1 spent on community water fluoridation, there is a savings of $38 on the cost of dental treatment. West Virginia has a long standing history of community water fluoridation. In the past two years, there have been six public water systems to achieve 50 years of water fluoridation.
FREE WATER TESTING FOR PRIVATE SYSTEMS
The Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health and the Oral Health Program encourage families to obtain water test kits to determine the fluoride levels of any private water system such as wells and cisterns. To take advantage of this opportunity, please contact your primary health care provider or local health department and ask about free water testing.
2013 Water Fluoridation Awards
2012 Water Fluoridation Awards
2011 Water Fluoridation Awards
CDC Fluoride Fact Sheets:
Private Well Water and Fluoride Fact Sheet
Fluoride Basics
Fluoride Safety
If you have any questions about the free water testing project, please submit an inquiry via the
Contact Us section of this web site, or call the Oral Health Program at 1-800-642-8522