Fluoride
The Cedar Rapids Water Division sets the fluoride dosage in the drinking water supply at 0.7 parts per million (ppm), an optimal measurement based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation.
Iowa Department of Public Health
View Iowa's 2017 Report on Water Fluoridation
Why add Fluoride to our water?
One in five people has untreated tooth decay which impacts employment, social development, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.
Some benefits of community water fluoridation include:
- A cost effective way to prevent and reduce tooth decay. For every $1 spent on community water fluoridation, $38 in dental treatment costs are saved.
- A reduction in tooth decay by at least 25% throughout a person’s lifetime.
- A lifetime of safe tooth decay prevention regardless of age, income, or education.
—Information from the Iowa Department of Public Health
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is proven to protect against tooth decay by keeping tooth enamel strong and solid. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adding fluoride at 0.7 ppm. This amount was decreased from 1.0 ppm in 2001 based on the increased availability of fluoride in products such as toothpaste and mouthwash lessening the need for fluoride in community water systems.
If you would like to speak with someone about the quality of the Cedar Rapids Drinking Water or the level of fluoride in the water contact Customer Service at 319-286-5900.
More Information about Water Fluoridation is available from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
