FLUORIDATED
TAP WATER PROTECTS AGAINST DENTAL DISEASES
PARSIPPANY, NJ - According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100
million American children and adults do not have
access to fluoridated water to protect their
teeth. Many still needlessly suffer from dental
diseases.
Yet, the most inexpensive way to deliver the
benefits of fluoride to all residents of a community
is through fluoridation of municipal drinking
water. According to Delta Dental Plans Association
(DDPA),
fluoridated water safely and effectively decreases
the incidence of dental diseases to a community,
especially for its young children.
"Preventive measures are the best tools
to keep dental diseases in check. Adding fluoride
to water supplies will greatly reduce the incidence
of cavities and tooth decay,"
says D. Scott Navarro, DDS, Vice President, Professional
Development, and Dental Director, Delta Dental
Plan of New Jersey, Inc. "Dental disease
can affect anyone and lead to serious oral health
problems. Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey and DDPA urge
any and all non-fluoridated communities to consider
fluoridation. And we also support communities
that aren't fluoridated in their efforts to become
fluoridated."
The amount of fluoride in fluoridated
water is relatively small - about one part per
million - safe, yet strong enough to strengthen
the developing teeth of children and0 protect
adults' teeth. And, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, the per capita
cost of water fluoridation over an entire lifetime
comes to less than the cost of one dental filling.
"In communities where preventive measures
such as adding fluoride to tap water are the
norm, the occurrence and severity of dental diseases
and tooth decay have been greatly reduced," says
Dr. Navarro. "Delta Dental and DDPA believe
that fluoridated water provides great benefits
for children and adults alike, helping to maintain
their healthy smiles"
Delta Dental Plan
of New Jersey, Inc., is the state's leading
and largest dental benefits carrier, providing
coverage to more than one million people
in New Jersey and Connecticut.
Based in Oak Brook, IL,
Delta Dental Plans Association is a national
network of independently operated not-for-profit
dental service corporations specializing in
providing dental benefits programs to 30 million
Americans in more than 50,000 employer groups
throughout the country.
