Community Water Fluoridation Program
Oral health is integral to overall health and is a key component to quality of life.
OSDH supports community water fluoridation and recognizes the practice as safe, cost-effective and beneficial to all who drink and use the water. For more than 70 years, fluoridated water has resulted in a remarkable decline in the prevalence and severity of dental decay. Studies prove that even today, the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water reduces dental decay by 18-40%.
Water fluoridation requires little effort from the public. Simply drinking and using the water is all that is needed. Beverages and foods processed in fluoridated communities benefit all who consume these products. Widespread community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, both for families and the health care system. For most cities, every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs.
The addition of fluoride to a water supply does not change the taste, color, odor or other changes to water. Fluoride is added to the water supply solely to reduce dental decay and disease in children and adults.
It is recommended that all applicable public water systems in Oklahoma be fluoridated to the optimal level for oral health. OSDH Dental Health Service plays a major role with water fluoridation, with assistance from the Oklahoma Dental Association, academic institutions and health advocacy groups. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is the regulatory agency.
The Oklahoma Community Water Fluoridation Plan, developed in 2012 has been updated. View the current plan: Oklahoma Community Water Fluoridation Plan.
For more information on community water fluoridation, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, and the Campaign for Dental Health Websites. There is an interactive program on the CDC site, My Water's Fluoride, where you can check the fluoridation status of your community. A number of researchers and health organizations have publicly spoken about the scientific evidence supporting fluoridation. These links can be accessed on the Web Addresses for Additional Dental Information in the left navigation pane.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Dental Health Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
Phone: (405) 426-8460
