Skip to main content

NH 43rd in nation for fluoride in drinking water

Image
News Date
Body

A recently released survey from the Centers for Disease Control found that NH ranked 43rd in the nation for access to fluoride in public drinking water. The survey looked only at public water systems, excluding the 36% of residents who use private wells, which are not generally fluoridated.

Roughly 834,000 residents of NH are on public water. Only 390,000—slightly less than half—have access to fluoridated water.

Concord, Dover, Laconia, Lebanon, Manchester and Lancaster have been recognized by the CDC for water fluoridation quality. Nashua, however, is the largest of many communities in the Granite State that do not add fluoride to their public water supply.

Supporters of supplementing drinking water with fluoride say it is a smart investment in public health, providing a safe, affordable way to prevent cavities and protect against tooth decay.

Opponents counter that putting fluoride into public water constitues a government mandated medication, and note that many people may already be dosed with fluoride through toothpastes and other dental products, leading to ingestion of an excessive amount. Too much fluoride can cause staining of the teeth. 

Comments

Login or register to post comments

Thank you to our sponsors and donors