Fluoride occurs naturally in the earth's crust.  All water sources contain fluoride; community water fluoridation measures simply adjust the natural level of fluoride in the water system to benefit oral health.

Community water fluoridation adjustment is effective. It prevents cavities in people of all ages, especially kids and seniors.   An analysis of 113 studies showed decay reduction of 50-59% for permanent teeth in children, and 15-35%  reduction in cavities for adults and seniors.  Fluoride benefits the entire community.

By drinking optimally fluoridated water, people of all ages are assisting their body's natural remineralization process of their teeth. 

Fluoridation is safe. There is overwhelming support from the scientific and medical communities. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified community water fluoridation adjustments as one of the Top 10 public health achievements of the 20^th Century.  The American Medical Association, American Dental Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics all support fluoridation.

Community water fluoridation adjustment is cost effective. Approximate costs are only about 50 cents per person annually, compared to the cost of one cavity filling about $80 for a child or adult.

Port Angeles has a higher cavity rate than the rest of Washington State.  41.7% of 2^nd and 3^rd graders in Clallam County had untreated dental decay in 2000-2001, compared to the state average of 26.7%.  The rate at the Monroe School was 42.3%.

Community water fluoridation is a major step in prevention. Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease in America, affecting 50% of first graders and 80% of 17-year-olds. It is five times as common as childhood asthma.

Preschoolers living in communities where the water is not treated with fluoride are three times more likely to require dental treatment in a hospital operating room than their peers in communities with fluoridated water.

Communities across the United States have been safely adjusting the natural level of fluoride in their water systems for over 50 years.  Forks has had fluoride for nearly 50 years, and continues to have broad support.

Most Americans enjoy the benefits of fluoride.  More than 162 million Americans, about 65%, receive the benefit of community adjustments.

There is strong broad base community support for fluoridation in Port Angeles. 70% of Port Angeles residents support fluoridation in a random survey of 250 households done in December 2002. 

The Port Angeles medical and dental communities are united in support of fluoridation.  In fact, in December 2002, the Medical Staff of Olympic Memorial Hospital unanimously passed a resolution supporting fluoridation adjustment.

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