BRONSON, MI (WTVB) – The City of Bronson is one of eight Michigan communities being recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their contributions to oral health through community water fluoridation. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that Bronson received the 2014 Community Water Fluoridation Reaffirmation Award for reaffirming the city’s commitment to maintaining a community water fluoridation program with the passage of a ballot proposal last November.
In a news release issued on Tuesday, Dr. Eden Wells, the State’s Chief Medical Executive with Health and Human Services, said water fluoridation is one of the most effective means we have for preventing and controlling tooth decay throughout a person’s life. According to Wells, the latest studies show that even in an environment where people have access to multiple sources of fluoride, such as fluoride toothpaste and professional dental treatments, fluoridation continues to prevent at least 25 percent of tooth decay in children and adults.
Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. CDC recommends water fluoridation as a safe, effective, and inexpensive method of preventing decay, adding that every $1 invested in fluoridation saves at least $38 in costs for dental treatment. Michigan consistently exceeds the CDC recommendations for community water supplies by having 90 percent of the state’s population on community water systems accessing fluoridated water.
