How fluoride in your tap water protects your oral health
For more than 80 years, fluoride in community drinking water has helped prevent cavities and improve oral health for Americans.1 But recent headlines may have left you wondering: Is fluoride still safe? And does it actually help protect my teeth?
According to major health organizations and decades of research, the answer is yes. Despite the claims of some politicians and online wellness influencers, oral health experts continue to consider community water fluoridation one of the most effective tools for preventing cavities.
Before we explain how fluoride supports your oral health, we must first answer an important question: What is fluoride anyway?
What Is fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that is found naturally in soil, water and certain foods. It strengthens your tooth enamel (the hard, white outer layer of your teeth), making it more resistant to acid from bacteria in your mouth.
When you eat sugary or starchy foods, bacteria in your mouth produce acids that wear down your enamel in a process called demineralization. Fluoride helps strengthen your enamel by supporting remineralization, which adds minerals to the enamel and can prevent early tooth decay before it becomes a cavity.2
Why communities add fluoride to drinking water
Many public water systems adjust the amount of fluoride in drinking water to a level recommended for preventing tooth decay. This practice, known as community water fluoridation, began in the United States in the 1940s after scientists found that people living in areas with naturally fluoridated water had fewer cavities.1,3
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA) continue to support fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure.
Fluoride and your oral health: What the research shows
Research consistently shows that drinking fluoridated water helps protect teeth. Studies show that community water fluoridation reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults.3
Fluoridation provides some oral health protection across the entire community, including people who may not regularly visit a dentist.
Community water fluoridation is also cost-effective. Communities with fluoridated water save money on dental treatment costs because fewer cavities mean fewer fillings, tooth extractions and dental emergencies.3
Fluoride isn’t a one-and-done oral health solution
Fluoridated water provides an important layer of protection, but it works best when you combine it with daily at-home oral health habits:
- Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing once daily
- Limiting sugary foods and drinks
- Drinking water throughout the day
- Seeing your dentist every 6 months for an exam and cleaning
Together, these habits help keep teeth strong and help prevent cavities.
When it comes to your health, trust experts and evidence
Community water fluoridation benefits people of all ages. By strengthening your tooth enamel and reducing cavities, it helps protect your oral health while lowering the need for costly dental treatments.
Despite clickbait headlines, the science remains strong: fluoride in drinking water is a safe and effective way to support the oral health of you and your community.
REFERENCES:
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Community Water Fluoridation
- Cleveland Clinic
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oral Health
- American Dental Association News
back to Top
What Gen Z thinks about dental and vision benefits
As Generation Z (Gen Z) continues entering the workforce, employers are learning that this group approaches benefits differently than previous generations. Born roughly between 1996 and 20101, Gen Z employees are early in their careers and likely managing insurance for the first time. Their expectations and knowledge gaps should shape how to best communicate about benefits like dental and vision coverage.
For employers and HR leaders, understanding how Gen Z views insurance can help ensure these valuable benefits are both appreciated and used.
Gen Z values benefits, but they don’t really understand them
Many Gen Z employees recognize the importance of insurance, but there are some big knowledge gaps in this demographic. A survey from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) found that only 27% of Gen Z adults knew what “deductible” meant, and just 29% understood the meaning of “copay.” The survey also found that most (54%) respondents said the thought of dealing with insurance makes them feel anxious or overwhelmed.2
This knowledge gap doesn’t necessarily mean Gen Z doesn’t value coverage, but they need clearer explanations. Many are enrolling in benefits for the first time without the guidance that previous generations may have received from parents or long-term employers.
For HR teams, this highlights an important opportunity to boost benefits education for employees, especially those who are entry level.
Dental and vision benefits are an easy sell for younger employees
Dental and vision benefits can be especially appealing to Gen Z employees for several reasons:
- Affordability: Entry level workers are often managing student loans and rent with limited savings. Dental and vision coverage helps reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
- Preventive care: Routine dental cleanings and eye exams are predictable expenses and covered at 100% by most Delta Dental of Iowa and DeltaVision plans.
- Digital lifestyle: Many Gen Z employees spend a lot of time on screens, making regular vision care and eyewear benefits particularly important.
Employers who clearly communicate these practical advantages can help younger employees understand the real-world value of their benefits package.
How stress and anxiety influence Gen Z health behaviors
Gen Z reports higher levels of stress and anxiety than previous generations, which can influence how they approach healthcare. One survey found that 46% of Gen Z respondents reported feeling stressed or anxious most or all of the time, compared to 41% of Millennials.3 For some, anxiety around costs or confusing insurance terminology may lead them to delay care or avoid enrolling in benefits altogether.
When employers simplify benefit information and promote preventive care, they can help reduce those barriers. Here’s what that might look like:
- Explaining that most Delta Dental of Iowa dental plans cover preventive services like cleanings and exams at little or no cost.
- Highlighting DeltaVision benefits that include annual eye exams or allowances for glasses or contacts.
- Providing clear examples of what common services might cost with insurance versus what they’ll cost without insurance.
These practical examples help translate abstract insurance concepts into actual value.
Get your message to land: How to communicate with Gen Z
Because Gen Z has spent their whole lives in a digital world, they often expect benefits information to be accessible, straightforward and easy to understand. Employers may see better engagement when they communicate insurance information using:
- Short educational videos or infographics
- Mobile-friendly benefits portals
- Step-by-step instructions for using dental and vision coverage
Need ideas on how to make benefits easier to understand?
Gen Z may be new to the workforce, but confusion about insurance is common across all age groups. Employers that prioritize benefits education can improve utilization, satisfaction and overall employee well-being.
Delta Dental of Iowa works with our employer groups to help you communicate the value of dental and vision benefits in ways employees can grasp and appreciate.
REFERENCES:
- McKinsey & Company
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners
- National Library of Medicine
SOURCES:
Benefit Focus
World at Work
Forbes