Community water fluoridation

The aim of community water fluoridation (a well recognised strategy globally) is to reduce the prevalence of dental caries through the adjustment of naturally occurring fluoride in public water supplies to the optimum level of oral health.

Existing schemes in England were introduced progressively between 1964 and 1995. They serve approximately 6 million people living in 26 different local authority areas in various parts of the country. Overall, the annual cost of supplying fluoridated water to 6 million people in England is around £2.1 million (an investment of £0.35 per person per annum).

Evaluation of fluoridation schemes in England has repeatedly demonstrated reductions in average levels of caries per child and increases in the proportion of caries-free children. The findings of individual studies of the effects of introducing water fluoridation, cross-sectional studies comparing children’s caries levels in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities, and the national monitoring report of Public Health England (2014) combine to highlight the benefits of this programme for oral health.