At a time when states like Utah have stopped adding fluoride to public water systems, 81% of adults in the U.S. report supporting or not being opposed to community water fluoridation, according to a report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
Only 6% of adults polled supported a complete ban on water fluoridation, according to the report.
“This survey confirms that the campaign against water fluoridation is out of step with not only the vast majority of the scientific and medical communities, but with the American people, too,” Melissa Burroughs, senior director of public policy at CareQuest, said in a press release dated July 22.
Major health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Mayo Clinic, and the ADA, support community water fluoridation. A recent study warned that halting fluoridation in the U.S. could lead to over 25 million additional decayed teeth in children and nearly $10 billion in extra healthcare costs, according to the release.
Among U.S. adults, 52% support and 29% do not oppose fluoride use in drinking water. Most Americans (96%) trust their family doctor or pediatrician for information about fluoride, and 86% use some form of it, according to the report that was based on responses from 1,114 U.S. adults collected in July.
Additionally, 79% believe the government should take steps to protect and improve oral health. Even among those who oppose fluoridation, many believe the decision should be left to individual communities, according to the report.
“The government should protect oral health, not cut off access to basic preventive care like fluoride,” Burroughs said in the release.
