Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in water supplies. For over 75 years, people in the United States have been drinking water with fluoride adjusted to the optimal levels to benefit dental health. Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults.<\/p>\n
Oral disease in young children is detrimental to their overall health and well-being and can affect their ability to eat, to speak, to play, and to concentrate and learn. Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease with significant short- and long-term consequences. It is five times more common than asthma, four times more common than early childhood obesity, and twenty times more common than diabetes. Despite being highly preventable, oral diseases and disorders affect health throughout the lifespan; and if left untreated can lead to expensive treatment, disruption of growth and development, pain, and life-threatening infections.<\/p>\n