Delays Need for Expensive Dental Work
Fluoride has many benefits, but one of the most important is that it can delay or even prevent the need for expensive dental work. When cavities are caught early, they can be treated with simple fillings. Fluoride works to prevent cavities in two ways. It strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks that can cause cavities, and it also inhibits the growth of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. If cavities are left untreated, they can progress and become very costly to fix. Extensive dental work, such as crowns or dentures, may be required in extreme cases.
Dental cavities are the most common chronic disease in childhood. Despite this, many children do not have access to fluoride. Community water fluoridation (CWF) is the most efficient way to deliver fluoride to all community members, regardless of socio-economic status.
A recent study found that for every $1 spent on community water fluoridation, there was a return of $38 in savings on dental treatment costs. This same study found that if community water fluoridation was increased to optimal levels, billions of dollars could be saved in dental treatment costs for many years.
