Fluoride In Well Water Michigan

As of may 2000 42 of the 50 largest u s.

Fluoride in well water michigan.

Public health service by. Fluoridated water operates on tooth surfaces. Grand rapids mi grand rapids was the first city in the country to add fluoride to its drinking water in an attempt to fight tooth decay. As with some other countries water fluoridation in the united states is a contentious issue.

Cities had water fluoridation. When subsequent studies showed a significantly lower rate of cavities in schoolchildren water fluoridation spread to other towns and cities. In the mouth it creates low levels of fluoride in saliva which reduces the rate at which tooth enamel. On january 25 1945 grand rapids michigan became the first community in the united states to fluoridate its drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

This award is given to communities who have continuously provided the public health benefit of fluoridated water to it s residents for 50 years. This hypothesis dean told his colleagues would need to be tested in 1944 dean got his wish. Fluoride is the name given to a group of compounds that are composed of the naturally occurring element fluorine and one or more other elements. Fluoridation became an official policy of the u s.

Dean wondered whether adding fluoride to drinking water at physically and cosmetically safe levels would help fight tooth decay. Seventy five years later the west michigan city is. In 2015 lowered the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water supplies from up to 1 2 milligrams per liter to 0 7 milligrams per liter mainly to cut down on potential damage to. Water fluoridation is the controlled adjustment of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay fluoridated water contains fluoride at a level that is effective for preventing cavities.

Fluoridation is considered part of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century and michiganders can be proud of the fact that it started right here in grand rapids 73 years ago. Fluorides are present naturally in water and soil at varying levels. This can occur naturally or by adding fluoride. In the 1940s scientists discovered that people who lived where drinking water supplies had naturally occurring fluoride levels of approximately 1 part fluoride per million parts.

For three quarters of a century community water fluoridation has been a major factor in reducing rates of tooth decay in the united states.