ORGANIZATION
Mississippi State Department of Health
YEARS
2004 – 2009
INVESTING IN A HEALTHIER FUTURE
Mississippi Public Water Fluoridation Program
Phases I - IV
Mississippi Public Water Fluoridation Program
Phases I - IV
Fluoridation of community water systems is the single most effective public health measure to prevent dental decay. Water fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride that occurs naturally in water to optimal level to protect oral health throughout the lifespan. Recent studies show that water fluoridation is effective in reducing dental decay by 20 to 40%. The most inexpensive way to deliver the benefits of fluoride to all residents of a community is through water fluoridation. For most cities, every dollar invested in public water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs.
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, less than 50% of Mississippi’s population on public water systems receives fluoridated water, ranking 41st of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Mississippi, 69% or about seven in ten third-grade children in public schools have experienced tooth decay and 10% of children have an urgent need for dental care. Mississippi ranks second of 50 states for persons aged 65 years or older who have lost some or all of their natural teeth.
In an effort to reduce and prevent tooth decay in Mississippians, The Bower Foundation has funded the Mississippi Public Water Fluoridation Program in collaboration with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) since 2004. The Foundation provides for a Water Fluoridation Coordinator at the MSDH and fluoridation equipment and the first year of fluoride for the new systems. The infrastructure and capacity support provides education outreach and public awareness, recruitment of public water systems to start programs, and oversight of timely and consistent safety monitoring activities in collaboration with the MSDH Division of Water Supply.
The MSDH has leveraged the Foundation funds to receive additional program funding through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. These block grant funds have provided for 40% of the new water fluoridation system costs.
Since the initiation of the Foundation’s support in 2004, 23 water systems have implemented water fluoridation to the benefit of 126,005 citizens. In addition, 32 public water systems are in the implementation phase of their water fluoridation agreements. Together, these 55 water systems will provide fluoridated water to over 270,000 Mississippians. From 2003 to 2008, the total proportion of population on Mississippi public water systems that receive fluoridated water increased from 42% to 53.1%, a total of 1.6 million Mississippians.
Water fluoridation programs are an efficient strategy to reduce dental disease among all Mississippians and to create the foundation for sound community caries-prevention programs.
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, less than 50% of Mississippi’s population on public water systems receives fluoridated water, ranking 41st of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Mississippi, 69% or about seven in ten third-grade children in public schools have experienced tooth decay and 10% of children have an urgent need for dental care. Mississippi ranks second of 50 states for persons aged 65 years or older who have lost some or all of their natural teeth.
In an effort to reduce and prevent tooth decay in Mississippians, The Bower Foundation has funded the Mississippi Public Water Fluoridation Program in collaboration with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) since 2004. The Foundation provides for a Water Fluoridation Coordinator at the MSDH and fluoridation equipment and the first year of fluoride for the new systems. The infrastructure and capacity support provides education outreach and public awareness, recruitment of public water systems to start programs, and oversight of timely and consistent safety monitoring activities in collaboration with the MSDH Division of Water Supply.
The MSDH has leveraged the Foundation funds to receive additional program funding through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. These block grant funds have provided for 40% of the new water fluoridation system costs.
Since the initiation of the Foundation’s support in 2004, 23 water systems have implemented water fluoridation to the benefit of 126,005 citizens. In addition, 32 public water systems are in the implementation phase of their water fluoridation agreements. Together, these 55 water systems will provide fluoridated water to over 270,000 Mississippians. From 2003 to 2008, the total proportion of population on Mississippi public water systems that receive fluoridated water increased from 42% to 53.1%, a total of 1.6 million Mississippians.
Water fluoridation programs are an efficient strategy to reduce dental disease among all Mississippians and to create the foundation for sound community caries-prevention programs.