Fluoridation
Learn about Fluoride & it's History in Kalamazoo County.
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Q: What is Water Fluoridation?
A: In many community water systems, a controlled amount of Fluoride is added to the drinking water to promote dental health and reduce tooth decay. This practice is referred to as water fluoridation. The current recommended concentration for water fluoridation is 0.7 mg/L (milligrams per liter of water)
To visualize 0.7mg/L imagine putting 3 small kool-aid canisters in an Olympic-Sized swimming pool.
Q: What are the Benefits?
A: Water fluoridation promotes oral health and reaches everyone in the community. Acid, produced by bacteria in the mouth, can create holes on the surface of the teeth. Fluoride helps protect and rebuild this surface, preventing about 25% of cavities. This saves communities and families money on dental treatment.
Q: Where Else is Fluoride Found?
A: Fluoride also naturally occurs in groundwater. The concentration of Fluoride in groundwater can vary from region to region in the United States. Around Kalamazoo County, Fluoride levels in groundwater are around 0.02 mg/L to 0.4 mg/L.
Michigan Community Water System Statistics
- 7,379,404 persons are served by community water systems in Michigan.
- 6,605,118 if those persons receive fluoridated water from their community water system.
- This means 89.5% of the population in Michigan is receiving the benefits of fluoridated water through their community water system.
Q: How is Water Fluoridation Regulated?
A: The type of Fluoride and concentration that may be added to community water systems is regulated by the State. Learn more by clicking the EGLE link below. The type of Fluoride and concentration that may be added to bottled water is regulated by the FDA. Learn more by clicking the FDA link below.
Q: How Much is in My Water?
A: In the Kalamazoo area, the community water system is the Public Services Municipal Water Supply. Our drinking water is fluoridated to the recommended level of 0.7 mg/L.
If you live in a surrounding community, you can find out if your water system is fluoridated by clicking the My Water's Fluoride link below.
If you have a private residential well, the Kalamazoo County Health Department can help determine the Fluoride level in your water. Learn more by clicking the Kalamazoo County Government link below.
Kalamazoo County Average Fluoride Concentration in Private Wells by Township
- Alamo, 0.11 mg/L
- Brady, 0.08 mg/L
- Charleston, 0.09 mg/L
- Climax, 0.09 mg/L
- Comstock, 0.08 mg/L
- Cooper, 0.09 mg/L
- Kalamazoo, 0.19 mg/L
- Oshtemo, 0.08 mg/L
- Pavilion, 0.10 mg/L
- Portage 0.06 mg/L
- Prairie Ronde, 0.10 mg/L
- Richland, 0.06 mg/L
- Ross, 0.09 mg/L
- Schoolcraft, 0.08 mg/L
- Texas, 0.06 mg/L
- Wakesham, 0.15 mg/L
Q: Is too much Fluoride Bad?
A: Dentists and public health professionals agree that an ideal level of Fluoride in our diet can help promote healthy teeth and strong bones. We also know that too much Fluoride, over the course of many years, can be a health concern. Research has helped health professionals determine the most beneficial level of Fluoride, and that level is different based on your life stage. View the table to the below for more information or
download the original image version.
| Life Stage | Daily Recomended Amount | Daily Upper Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant and Breastfeeding | 3 mg | 10 mg |
| Birth to 6 Months | 0.01 mg | 0.7 mg |
| Infants 7-12 Months | 0.5 mg | 0.9 mg |
| Children 1 to 3 Years | 0.7 mg | 1.3 mg |
| Children 4 to 8 Years | 1 mg | 2.2 mg |
| Children 9 to 13 Years | 2 mg | 10 mg |
| Teens 14 to 18 Years | 3 mg | 10 mg |
| Adult Women 19+ Years | 3 mg | 10 mg |
| Adult Men 19+ Years | 4 mg | 10 mg |
Henry the Water Drop Says:
The Kalamazoo Water Pumping Stations add small amounts of chlorine for disinfection, fluoride to keep your teeth healthy and a phosphate to help control iron and provide corrosion control in the water pipes.
Q: Are Fluoride Additives Safe?
A: Fluoride which is added to community water systems is obtained by different manufacturing processes.
The three different types of Fluoride which can be added to community water systems are:
- Fluorosilicic Acid
- Sodium Fluorosilicate
- Sodium Fluoride
These Fluoride additives must meet strict quality standards, testing, and certification by the American Water Works Association and the National Sanitary Foundation. Both of these organizations are nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations.
Additionally, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) cites two recent studies which show the same Fluoride ion is present in naturally occurring Fluoride and in Fluoride drinking water additives. These studies also suggest our bodies metabolize Fluoride additives in the same manor they metabolize naturally occurring Fluoride.
Q: What Do the Professionals Say?
A: The American Water Works Association: "AWWA supports the application of Fluoride in a responsible, effective, and reliable manner that includes monitoring and control of Fluoride levels mandated by provincial, state, and/or federal laws and which is subject to community acceptance through applicable local decision-making processes. AWWA supports regular reviews of the most current research on Fluoride and the positions of the medical and dental communities." Learn more by clicking on the AWWA link below.
A: The Kalamazoo Valley District Dental Society: "Fluoride helps prevent cavities in children and adults by making teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities. When you brush your teeth with Fluoride toothpaste, use other Fluoride dental products and drink water with Fluoride you are preventing cavities and strengthening your teeth's enamel." Learn more by clicking the KVDDS link below.
Community Water Fluoridation Timeline
Feb 1947
Reader's Digest reprints " The Town Without a Toothache," an article touting the cavity-preventing power of naturally fluoridated water in Hereford, Texas.
1944
Grand Rapids City Commission votes to approve a pilot fluoridation project.
1948
577,683 Americans receive fluoridated tap water.
1954
The number of Americans receiving fluoridated tap water passes 20 million.
1975
Over 100 million Americans receive fluoridated tap water.
1980
Half of the total US population receives fluoridated tap water.
2008
The US population passes 300 million, and 64.3% of the population receives fluoridated tap water.
2012
Three-quarters of Americans (74.6%) served by a public water system receive fluoridated water.
2020
Aiming to build on 75 years of proven safety and effectiveness, the Department of Health and Human Services sets the goal to have 77.1% of the population receive the recommended amount of Fluoride by 2030.
Fluoride and Infant Formula
The recommended daily amount of Fluoride for infants is much lower than that of children or adults. Too high of a Fluoride intake in infants can increase the chance of dental fluorosis.
To reduce the chance of dental fluorosis, the CDC and most formula producers, recommend using bottled water when preparing powdered formula. The bottle water should have one of the following lables:
- Deionized
- Purified
- Demineralized
- Distilled
