The Iowa Department of Public Health has announced 63 Iowa communities have been honored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with a Water Fluoridation Quality Award. Newton Water Works was among those honored.
The number of communities receiving awards is up from 40 last year. Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes those communities that achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in drinking water throughout 2015.
“Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that communities can make in maintaining the oral health of their citizens. It is equally as effective in preventing cavities in children and adults,” said IDPH Water Fluoridation Coordinator Kelsey Feller. “Fluoridation is also highly cost effective; studies continue to show that for every $1 invested by communities in water fluoridation, $38 are saved in dental treatment costs.”
For more information on the water fluoridation in Iowa, visit idph.iowa.gov/ohds/oral-health-center/fluoride.