Office of oral health

Water Fluoridation

New: Statement on Community Water Fluoridation

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) supports an optimal level of fluoride in drinking water. It’s a safe, effective, cost-saving resource that keeps our state’s diverse communities healthy.

View CDPH Issues Statement on Community Water Fluoridation for the full statement.

What is Water Fluoride?

Fluoride is a natural occurring mineral that prevents and protects teeth from decay. Fluoride stops or can even reverse the tooth decay process. This keeps tooth enamel strong for both children and adults. All drinking water naturally contains some fluoride.

What is Community Water Fluoridation?

Community water fluoridation is a process that adjusts naturally occurring fluoride levels. The amount of fluoride in community drinking water has no health hazards. It’s narrowed oral health inequality by ensuring water is at the best level to prevent tooth decay.

Research has found people with fluoridated water save around $32 per person by avoiding treatment for tooth decay. In 2022, almost 60% of Californians who got their water from community water systems had fluoridated water.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named community water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recommendation: In 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published recommendation for fluoride concentration in drinking water for the prevention of dental caries.

Engineering and Administrative Recommendations for Water Fluoridation: This report delineates specific recommendations related to the engineering aspects of water fluoridation, including administration, monitoring and surveillance, technical requirements, and safety procedures. The recommendations address water fluoridation for both community public water supply systems and school public water supply systems.

California Fluoridation Manual (PDF, 8.3MB): This manual provides guidance for local health jurisdictions in California in the promotion of community water fluoridation for oral health based on generally accepted, peer-reviewed, scientific evidence and experience.
I Like My Teeth: A Campaign for Dental Health by the AAP provides information on fluoridated water to ensure that people of all ages have access to the most effective, affordable, and equitable way to protect teeth from decay.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC provides information on the benefits of water fluoridation, as well as recommendations and guidance for water engineers and operators. This webpage also outlines scientific statements, statements of support from federal, state, and local agencies, basic information and safety information for everyone, and information for professionals such as the water fluoridation training program.
American Dental Association’s Fluoridation Facts: Information from over 350 scientific references in an easy-to-use question and answer format on the topics of effectiveness, safety, practice, and cost-effectiveness of fluoridation.
California Environmental Protection Agency State Water Resources Control Board: Overview of fluoridation by public water systems, including background information on fluoridation data, most recent and historic fluoridation data, and fluoridation management and reporting.
CDC’s Water Fluoridation Data and Statistics: Monitoring quality and national fluoridation statistics on community water systems.