最適な共同フッ素添加水のレベル

The Department of Health and Human Services today announced that it will revise the recommended levels for optimally fluoridating community water systems. Historically, the recommended optimal level for community water fluoridation has been 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million. The new recommended level is 0.7 ppm.

The federal government is not recommending that communities stop adding fluoride to drinking water. Rather, it has recalibrated its recommendation for what it considers an effective level of fluoride to reduce the incidence of tooth decay while minimizing the rate of fluorosis in the general population, which has been slowly increasing. An HHS official has characterized the new recommendation as a reaffirmation of the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation in preventing dental caries.

At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency is announcing that it will study the issue of fluoride in water, based on a 2006 report from the National Academy of Sciences that questioned whether the EPA's current maximum allowable level of fluoride in water-4 ppm-should be reduced. The EPA announcement does not question the safety of optimal water fluoridation.

That said, government officials anticipate some public confusion over fluoridation safety. HHS has asked the ADA and its members to help minimize any concerns and reassure the public that water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to prevent dental disease.

The ADA will support the government's work and will continue advocating for communities to fluoridate their water at the new optimal level. We have released this statement to the media, explaining our support for the federal government's action and our continued support for community water fluoridation at optimal levels.

We also have generated a Q＆A sheet for your use in answering questions from patients. You also can direct patients who have questions or concerns about community water fluoridation to consumer information on ADA.org, and to the HHS website, which explains the agency's recommendation in detail with a comprehensive Q＆A for the general public.

ADA News online will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.

Sincerely,

Raymond Gist, DDS
President