LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Drinking adequate amounts of water, recommended is eight cups a day, is essential to maintaining good health and equally important for preserving one's teeth.
Fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay.
Drinking tap water provides systemic fluoride for developing teeth and topical fluoride for mature teeth. To help prevent decay, tap water should contain 0.7-1.2 milligrams per liter of fluoride. Rest assured, Langley's tap water fluoride levels are monitored and fall within the optimal levels.
While tap water contains fluoride, a majority of bottled waters don't maintain sufficient amounts of fluoride. In fact, many don't contain any fluoride. This matters most for people at a higher risk for cavities.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulations don't require bottled water companies to identify fluoride content. If the fluoride content isn't displayed on the label, contact the company for more information.
It is important for everyone to find out fluoride levels in their community as they may vary. For more information about a particular community's fluoride levels, visit:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp.