On this page: About the National Data | Methodology | History
About the National Data
Data
Baseline: 72.8 percent of persons were served by community water systems with optimally fluoridated water in 2016
Target: 77.1 percent
Methodology
Methodology notes
CDC produces a biennial report in collaboration with state oral health and drinking water programs. Details of the calculation of fluoridation statistics are available from CDC. The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendation for the optimal concentration of fluoride in drinking water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay was updated in 2015 from a range of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L based on ambient average air temperature to a uniform level of 0.7 mg/L for the nation. However, because water fluoridation is a state activity and the USPHS. Recommendation is not a federal regulation, water systems apply the definition of optimal concentration determined by the state in which they operate.
History
1. Effect size h=0.1 was chosen to correspond with 10% improvement from a baseline of 50%.