San Diego Opts for Fluoridation in Water Supply, But California Still Lags in National Rankings

In a California Healthline Special Report, experts on dental health and water supply discuss efforts to provide fluoridated water to Californians, following through on what CDC calls one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

The Special Report includes comments from:

• Don Lyman, division chief for chronic disease and injury control at the California Department of Public Health;
• Jon Roth, executive director of the California Dental Association Foundation; and
• Brad Sherwood, spokesperson for the Sonoma County Water Agency.

In 1995, the California Legislature passed a law requiring water agencies with more than 10,000 connections to inject fluoride into the water when money becomes available to do so. Citing statistics showing fluoridated water reduces cavities — especially in children — by as much as 50%, proponents are campaigning throughout the state to add fluoride to drinking water.

Now that San Diego has approved plans to add fluoride to its water, Santa Clara County and the Central Valley are the next likely sites for fluoridation, according to the California Dental Association Foundation (Rebillot, California Healthline, 6/20).

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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