Press Room

October 29, 2007

Fluoridation at last!

The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California will begin fluoridating its water on October 29, 2007. Approximately 18 million residents in the Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Riverside area will benefit. The California Department of Public Health has recommended that physicians and dentists suspend prescribing fluoride supplements for one year after the MWD implementation date in order to allow the local public water systems time to record average fluoride levels in their water. The suspension only pertains to fluoride drops and tablets prescribed to patients and does not apply to topical applications such as fluoride foam/gel treatments, fluoride rinses, or fluoride varnish applications. Halting supplements during this one-year period will help ensure that consumers do not receive more fluoride than is necessary and will not affect tooth formation in children. (Back to Press Room)