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Cochrane for Clinicians

Water Fluoridation for Dental Caries Prevention

Dongsheng Jiang, MD, FAAFP,
Juan Qiu, MD, PhD,
Penn State University College of Medicine, State College

American Family Physician. 2025;112(2):129-130.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for CME.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

  1. 1.Iheozor-Ejiofor Z, Walsh T, Lewis SR, et al. Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024(10):CD010856.
  2. 2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022 national water fluoridation statistics. June 6, 2024. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/php/statistics/2022-water-fluoridation-statistics.html
  3. 3.Iheozor-Ejiofor Z, Worthington HV, Walsh T, et al. Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015(6):CD010856.
  4. 4.National Toxicology Program. NTP monograph on the state of the science concerning fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment and cognition: a systematic review. NTP Monogr. 2024(8) ): NTP-MGRAPH-8.
  5. 5.Hefferon R, Goin DE, Sarnat JA, et al. Regional and racial/ethnic inequalities in public drinking water fluoride concentrations across the US. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2024;34(1):68-76.
  6. 6.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; US Public Health Service. Community water fluoridation recommendations. May 15, 2024. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/about/community-water-fluoridation-recommendations.html
  7. 7.American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP reiterates support for fluoride as FDA plans to pull some supplements from the market. May 13, 2025. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/32182/AAP-reiterates-support-for-fluoride-as-FDA-plans?searchresult=1
  8. 8.American Dental Association. Statement from the ADA on FDA action to remove ingestible fluoride prescription drug products. May 13, 2025. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/statement-from-the-ada-on-fda-action-to-remove-ingestible-fluoride-prescription-drug-products
  9. 9.US Preventive Services Task Force. Prevention of dental caries in children younger than 5 years: screening and interventions. December 7, 2021. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/prevention-of-dental-cariesin-children-younger-than-age-5-years-screening-and-interventions1#fullrecommendationstart

These are summaries of reviews from the Cochrane Library.

This series is coordinated by Corey D. Fogleman, MD, assistant medical editor.

A collection of Cochrane for Clinicians published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/cochrane.

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