The US implemented water fluoridation back in the late 40s/early 50s to help reduce the risk of cavities, and while the plan was indeed a success, it’s been so long since any research has been done, it’s easy to forget how much-fluoridated water has helped dental health in the US. Jerusalem recently fluoridated their public water, and a study by the city’s community dental medicine department in the Health Ministry found that fluoridated water indeed reduces the risk of cavities.
The study specifically found that the fluoridated water reduced rates of tooth decay “considerably” in 2011 and 2012 in Israel. Professor Harold Sgan-Cohen (research leader) and his team surveyed over 2,000 12-year-old children of various socioeconomic backgrounds in five cities around Israel. The results compared the rates of decay in communities that had fluoridated water versus those without. The researchers found that the occurrence of cavities was twice as common in children who lived in areas without fluoridation than in children who had fluoridated water.
TWICE as common. That’s an incredible statistic.
The team did look for side effects of fluoridated water, and they didn’t find anything alarming or new. They found a “minimal amount of mild fluorosis,” which was comparable with research carried out in other countries.
In case you were wondering exactly how beneficial our fluoridated water really is, then this study over the last two years in Israel should really hit it home. The benefits far outweigh the risks, and fluoridation efforts in Israel will mean fewer dental problems for children and adults in the future.