The CDC awards the Missouri public water systems for fluoridation quality

(KBSI) – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services recently announced Missouri as one of 27 states to receive the Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For 2022, a total of 1,209 public water systems in 27 states received these awards, including 53 in Missouri.

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 2022.

Gwen Sullentrup is Community Water Fluoridation Coordinator for The Office of Dental Health, and she talks about how proud, The Office of Department of Health and Senior Services is, of Missouri’s water systems and personnel. “They do fantastic job of making sure that we’re getting quality, clean water every single day. And those communities that are adding that benefit of fluoride are just taking it one step further.”

Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

Sullentrup says, “What they have to do is they have to work with an operational recommended range of 0.6-1.06 milligrams per liter of fluoride in the water supply.”

CDC recommends water fluoridation as one of the most practical, cost-effective, equitable and safe measures a community can take to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health. that extra 25% would be added bonus to your toothpastes, mouth rinses and trips to the dentist. for every dollar invested into water, the community members will be able to save up to 32 dollars a year

“That’s money back in their pockets that then gets reinvested back into the community which means tax dollars coming for the cities and counties and all of that.” Said Sullentrup.