A new study published in the Journal of Dental Research has confirmed previous supporting evidence that U.S. children and teens with access to fluoridated drinking water are less likely to have cavities or dental decay.
The study looked at dental exam records from the last 10 years of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and the Water Fluoridation Reporting Systems from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It shows that counties where 75 percent or more of the population had access to community water that was fluoridated show a 30 percent reduction in cavities in primary (or baby) teeth and a 12 percent reduction in cavities in adult or permanent teeth.