Drinking Water Fluoridation - MN Dept. of Health Skip to main content MENU Main navigation Home Data, Statistics, and Legislation Diseases and Conditions Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces Individual and Family Health About Us News and Announcements Translated Materials MENU Search MDH site Main navigation Home Data, Statistics, and Legislation Diseases and Conditions Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces Individual and Family Health About Us News and Announcements Translated Materials Breadcrumb Home Healthy Communities, Environment and Workplaces Environments and Your Health Water and Health Community Public Water Supply print Topic Menu Drinking Water Protection Drinking Water and COVID-19 Drinking Water Protection Home About Us A-Z Index of Contaminants in Water Community Public Water Supply Drinking Water Institute Drinking Water in Schools and Child Cares Drinking Water Revolving Fund Laws and Rules Noncommunity Public Water Supply Source Water Protection Water Operator and Certification Training Drinking Water Protection Contacts Related Topics Annual Reports Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit Fact Sheets Forms Invisible Heroes Videos: Minnesota's Drinking Water Providers Noncom Notes Newsletter Sample Collection Procedures (videos, pictures, written instructions) Waterline Newsletter Related Sites 10 States Standards Clean Water Fund Health Risk Assessment – Guidance Values and Standards for Water Minnesota Well Index Water and Health Wells and Borings Environmental Health Division EH Division Home Drinking Water Protection Drinking Water and COVID-19 Drinking Water Protection Home About Us A-Z Index of Contaminants in Water Community Public Water Supply Drinking Water Institute Drinking Water in Schools and Child Cares Drinking Water Revolving Fund Laws and Rules Noncommunity Public Water Supply Source Water Protection Water Operator and Certification Training Drinking Water Protection Contacts Related Topics Annual Reports Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit Fact Sheets Forms Invisible Heroes Videos: Minnesota's Drinking Water Providers Noncom Notes Newsletter Sample Collection Procedures (videos, pictures, written instructions) Waterline Newsletter Related Sites 10 States Standards Clean Water Fund Health Risk Assessment – Guidance Values and Standards for Water Minnesota Well Index Water and Health Wells and Borings Environmental Health Division EH Division Home Contact Info Drinking Water Protection Program 651-201-4700 [email protected] Contact Info Drinking Water Protection Program 651-201-4700 [email protected] Drinking Water Fluoridation What is community water fluoridation? Fluoride is natural to our environment. You can find it in soils and fresh and ocean water. Community water fluoridation adjusts the natural levels of fluoride to help prevent tooth decay. Municipal community water systems in Minnesota must adjust fluoride in their water to maintain a fluoride concentration between 0.5 and 0.9 milligrams per liter (mg/L). One mg/L is the same as one part per million. Expand All Contract All Fluoride prevents dental disease Fluoride is an efficient and equitable way to prevent one of the most common childhood diseases – dental decay. An estimated 51 million school hours in the United States are lost each year due to dental-related illness. Studies show that community water fluoridation prevents at least 25 percent of tooth decay in children and adults, even in a time when fluoride is widely available from other sources, like fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is safe and effective An overwhelming amount of scientific evidence indicates that fluoridation of community water supplies is safe. The CDC, the American Medical Association (AMA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Dental Association (ADA), and more than 125 other national and international organizations recognize the public health benefits of water fluoridation for preventing dental decay. Taking in too much fluoride during enamel development can lead to a dental condition known as dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis can occur when a person consumes too much fluoride during enamel development. This can result in visual or physical changes to the teeth, such as white or brown spots or pitting. Severe dental fluorosis is not common when drinking water fluoride concentrations are below 2 mg/L. Community water fluoridation saves money On average, every dollar spent on fluoridation by a community saves $20 in avoided dental treatment costs. Over a person's lifetime, the cost of fluoridation is typically less than the cost of one dental filling. Minnesota law requires community water fluoridation and testing Minnesota Statute 144.145 requires the fluoridation of water in all municipal water supplies except where natural levels are within the required fluoride concentration range of 0.5 to 0.9 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Minnesota Rule 4720.0030 describes the required level of fluoride and monitoring of drinking water fluoride concentrations. This rule was recently revised. You can find information about the revision at Minnesota Fluoridation Rule Revision. Municipal water supplies monitor system performance, collect daily samples, and submit reports and results to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) on a monthly basis. They also collect and submit quarterly duplicate samples to MDH. Samples are collected from distribution system locations that are representative of the entire drinking water system. Federal law regulates fluoride in drinking water The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4.0 mg/L for fluoride. This limit prevents exposure to harmful levels of fluoride in drinking water. Higher levels of fluoride exposure over a lifetime may cause a bone and joint condition described as skeletal fluorosis. Under certain conditions, fluoride can weaken bone and increase risk of fractures. EPA also has a non-enforceable secondary MCL (SMCL) of 2.0 mg/L to limit cosmetic effects of fluoride, such as dental fluorosis. Both the MCL and SMCL are higher than the Minnesota limit of 1.5 mg/L. Grants for community water fluoridation Please visit Drinking Water Protection Grant Information to see if there are fluoridation grants available. Additional information Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Community Water Fluoridation: Infant Formula Water Fluoridation Basics The Community Guide Improving Oral Health: Community Water Fluoridation (PDF) Minnesota Department of Health Drinking Water Protection Contacts by Topic References American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2014 Fast Facts (PDF) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 75 Years of Community Water Fluoridation Cost Savings of Community Water Fluoridation Of interest Fluoride Rule Revision Tags environment Last Updated: 12/08/2022 Get email updates Enter Email Address Submit Sign up for GovDelivery notifications Privacy Policy Equal Opportunity Translated Materials Contact Us About MDH Minnesota.gov Facebook Twitter Linked In Instagram Youtube Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of health print search share facebook instagram linkedin twitter youtube