The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released new guidelines on water fluoridation, meaning that Connecticut needs to update its recommended water fluoridation range to align with HHS. Specifically, Connecticut needs to drop its fluoride level slightly to reflect the fact that in this day and age, people receive fluoride’s benefits from multiple sources (e.g., products like mouth rinses).
The Connecticut Health Foundation has worked for over 15 years to improve oral health for Connecticut’s children and families. We think this a perfect time to review the ways in which community water fluoridation is effective, safe, money saving, and equitable.
Contributors
Matt Jacob, director of communications and outreach, Children’s Dental Health Project
Millicent Cripe, policy and communications intern, Connecticut Health Foundation
Elizabeth Krause, VP of policy and communications, Connecticut Health Foundation
Correction January 15, 2016: A previous version incorrectly stated the federal guideline change was from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The change was from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC’s parent agency.