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% of the population served by community water systems which have fluoridated water

Current Value

57%

2023

Definition

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Story Behind the Curve

Updated: February 2024

Author: Office of Oral Health, Vermont Department of Health


This indicator, or population measure, is part of our Healthy Vermonters 2030 data set. Read more about how this data helps us understand and improve the well-being of people in Vermont on the Healthy Vermonters 2030 webpage.

Because this data is meant to show how the health of our state changes during the decade from 2020-2030, some indicators may have very few data points for now. Keep checking back to see the progress our public health system and partners are making.

This measure tracks the percentage of the population on public water systems who benefit from fluoridated water. We want to maintain the baseline of 56% into 2030 and beyond, as this number has stayed consistent since 2011.

56% of Vermont residents who get their water from a public water system are currently served by systems with fluoridated water; this is well below the national Healthy People 2030 target of 77.1%. In fact, Vermont ranks 41 out of 50 when it comes this percentage (CDC, 2018).

Slight changes in this measure are due to changes in population size, not the number of optimally fluoridated public water systems.

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Why Is This Important?

Community water fluoridation is a Healthy People 2030 objective, a State Health Improvement Plan strategy (pg. 7), and a State Oral Health Plan activity (pg. 29). Drinking fluoridated water is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay in adults and children. Fluoridation is one of the most practical, cost-effective, and equitable public health measures communities can take to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health. Community Water Fluoridation is recognized by the CDC as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the twentieth century and has been supported by every Surgeon General since the 1950’s.

Equity and Impact

Community water fluoridation provides oral disease prevention to all members of a community regardless of socioeconomic status. In fact, the American Dental Association lists CWF as one of five steps to promote health equity. From the ADA: “Community water fluoridation is a population health initiative that is uniquely positioned to equitably prevent dental caries across all socioeconomic groups.”

How We Can Improve

Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) is a priority topic in our State Oral Health Plan, see CWF activities on page 29.  

The Office of Oral Health will work with partners to:

  • Educate, support, and assist communities on the importance of community water fluoridation for better oral health for Vermonters.
  • Work closely with communities, Oral Health Coalitions, and water operators to provide technical equipment assistance and operational support.
  • Ensure adequate infrastructure within the Vermont Health Department to continue to support community water fluoridation.
  • Continue our collaboration with Vermont Rural Water Association to provide education and training for water operators and Environmental Conservation for guidance and water regulations on community water fluoridation.
  • Continue our statewide tracking, monitoring and surveillance system for fluoride concentration levels of each public water system and support CDC’s national database reporting system on fluoridation.

Notes on Methodology

The objective to maintain the baseline level of 56% was set because current fluoridation technologies and water system infrastructure in Vermont limit expansion of community water fluoridation.

The Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS) is an online tool that helps states manage the quality of their water fluoridation programs. The information is also used as the basis for national surveillance reports that describe the percentage of the U.S. population on community water systems who receive 0.70 ppm optimally fluoridated drinking water. This system was developed by the CDC in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD). WFRS monitors the number and quality of water fluoridation systems, as well as the state population on public water supply systems. The population-served data is updated every even-numbered year.

To view more detail about the CDC’s WFRS, please see the following Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS).

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