Font Size:

Fluoridation

Request for Proposals for the 2025 Fluoridation Grant Opportunity

The Oral Health Office of the Alabama Department of Public Health is excited to announce the application acceptance period for the 2025 Fluoridation Grant Opportunity. The grant will be competitive, and those awarded have the opportunity to receive up to $25,000 each to be used to initiate, expand, or update the practice of Community Water Fluoridation (CWF).

Download the full request for proposals for details on the required activities to apply for the grant. This is a wonderful opportunity for your water system to initiate CWF, purchase new CWF equipment, or upgrade any existing equipment to continue CWF. The deadline for application submissions is Friday, September 20, 2024.

Drinking Water Week --- A Proclamation Signing Ceremony

On April 11, 2024, Governor Kay Ivey signed the Drinking Water Week Proclamation, acknowledging the vital importance of drinking tap water in Alabama. In attendance were representatives from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Alabama Rural Water Association, and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Drinking Water Week in 2024 is acknowledged May 5-11. Also in recognition of the week, Retirement Systems of Alabama buildings will be illuminated in blue on May 10.

(Click on the image to the right to see the full-size proclamation and photo.)

A message from I Like My Teeth...

Share the Water, Share the Love | Comparte el agua, comparte el amor

2021 Quality Fluoridation Awards

Congratulations to the 2021 Quality Fluoridation Award recipients! Click below to see who made our list for providing safe and superior quality fluoridated water for 12 consecutive months during 2021. Congratulations on a great year!

Virtual Education Conference: Oral Health & Community Water Fluoridation

The Oral Health & Community Water Fluoridation Conference for Alabama public water system operators was a HUGE success! Thank you to our wonderful speakers Tracy Boehmer, Dr. Johnny Johnson, Jason Bell, and Jody Coker for sharing your extensive knowledge on fluoridation and for helping us celebrate 75 years of community water fluoridation!

Fluoridation Resources

Fluoridation Toolkit

In support of Community Water Fluoridation and the positive impact it has had across the nation regarding oral health for over 70 years, the Alabama Department of Public Health Oral Health Office has drafted a State Fluoridation Toolkit to be downloaded, printed, shared, and distributed across Alabama.

Through collaboration with the Michigan Oral Health Coalition, the Missouri Oral Health Coalition, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we are proud to present this Fluoridation Toolkit which can be used to aid in the education and understanding of the positive impact, and continued use of community water fluoridation.

Download your copy of the State Fluoridation Toolkit!

For more than 70 years, community water fluoridation has been scientifically proven to reduce dental caries and improve the quality of life for adults and children across the United States. Fluoridation is the process of adjusting the amount of fluoride naturally found in water to a level known to reduce tooth decay and promote good oral health. All water contains some level of the mineral known as fluoride; however, most natural sources are too low to have any impact on the prevention of cavities. By adjusting the amount of fluoride in drinking water to an optimal level, community water fluoridation has been shown to prevent cavities and save money both for families and the health care system.

The science and research behind community water fluoridation has proven that it is both safe and effective. As a result, the number of people who continue to benefit from this standard oral health practice has grown to more than 75% of the U.S population. Community water fluoridation is supported by the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, US Public Health Service, World Health Organization, and the Center for Disease Control. With all the benefits of community water fluoridation, it is clear why the CDC named it one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

For more information, visit the CDC's section on Oral Health.

Fluoride in Water (American Dental Association)
AAP Recommends Fluoride to Prevent Dental Caries (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Visit the CDC's My Water's Fluoride for information on the State of Alabama. To find out more about Alabama's water supply, visit the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.