Recognized by leading public health and dental organizations as one of the most successful and cost-effective public health initiatives in history, community water fluoridation has protected Kentucky families from tooth decay for decades — making preventive dental care more affordable and accessible statewide.
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This fact sheet from CareQuest Institute and the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition outlines how community water fluoridation protects health and saves money for Kentuckians — and what lawmakers can do to protect what works.
Key Findings
- Decades of research and more than 7,000 studies have shown that fluoridating water at levels approved in the US is safe and effective at preventing tooth decay.
- In Kentucky, 27% of adults do not have dental insurance, and more than one in five adults age 65 and older have lost all their natural teeth to decay or disease — problems that will get worse if fluoride is removed.
- It could cost the state $19 million a year in increased Medicaid expenses for every 10% of Kentuckians that lose access to fluoridated water.
You may also be interested in:
- How Ending Water Fluoridation Would Affect Children and State Medicaid Costs, a report finding that ending water fluoridation in just five states could cause 132,000 additional children to need cavities filled or teeth pulled, and cost state Medicaid programs nearly $40 million.
- Community Water Fluoridation: Proven, Safe, and Essential for Oral Health, a fact sheet highlighting the overwhelming benefits of community water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay and reduce health care costs.
- Fluoride: Questions Parents Ask, answers to frequently asked questions about fluoride and community water fluoridation.