Priester conf matt j (april 2012) final

www.pewcenteronthestates.com

Tackling a Winnable Battle:Partners for Oral Health

Matt JacobPriester Health Conference

April 11, 2012


Percentage of Children Who Were Cavity-Free (Permanent or “Adult” Teeth)

America’s oral health: steady progress

1971-73 1979-80 1986-87

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%1988-94 1999-2002

Ages 5-17 Ages 6-19


The price and pain of tooth decay

• Each year, Americans spend roughly $50 billion to treat decayed teeth.

• 2007 survey: nearly 1 out of 9 children had suffered a toothache in the previous six months.

• 830,000+ Americans visited hospital ERs in 2009 for dental problems that were preventable. This was a 16% jump from 2006.


Community WaterFluoridation


Key facts about fluoridation

• Fluoride exists naturally in nearly all water supplies. “Fluoridation” is simply adjusting fluoride to the optimal level that protects teeth from decay.

• The first city to fluoridate its public water system was Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1945.

• Fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25%. In recent years, new studies have strengthened the evidence behind fluoridation.

• 72 percent of Americans whose homes are connected to a public water system receive fluoridated water.


How fluoridation works

• Fluoride in water mixes with saliva and coats teeth. These minute levels of fluoride re-mineralize the enamel of teeth, protecting against decay.

• Only a minute level of fluoride is needed to reach optimal fluoridation. Federal health officials have recommended a level of 0.7 parts per million.


Who supports water fluoridation?• American Academy of Pediatrics• American Dental Association• Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention• American Academy of Family Physicians• American Medical Association• American Academy of Physician

Assistants• U.S. Task Force on Community

Preventive Services• American Association for the

Advancement of Science• World Health Organization• Office of Health Affairs, U.S. Department

of Defense• American Academy of Public Health

Dentistry

• Institute of Medicine

• American Public Health Association

• National Consumers League

• Council of State Governments

• American Society for Clinical Nutrition

• Florida Department of Elder Affairs

• The Linus Pauling Institute

The CDC has named fluoridation one of “10 great public health

achievements of the 20th century”


Ample room for improvement

on public water systems lack access to optimally fluoridated water74 million Americans


The public’s information gap

• 58% of Maryland residents couldn’t identify the purpose for adjusting the fluoride in public drinking water.

• 80% of Americans admit they have a low level of knowledge about fluoridation.

How Informed Are You About Fluoridation?Survey of 1,503 adults (2010)

Very Informed 20%

Somewhat Informed 54%

Not at All Informed 26%


Opponents: Persistent and web-savvy


A web of misinformation


Creating fear, distorting science

• The Claim: Children are over-exposed to fluoride and it causes a condition called fluorosis.

• The Facts: – Nearly all fluorosis in the U.S. is a mild,

cosmetic condition that leaves faint white streaks on teeth.

– Mild fluorosis does not cause pain and does not affect the health or function of the teeth.

– Fluorosis exists in many areas, including countries with no water fluoridation.

She has fluorosis


Distorting the facts


Distorting the facts

Dr. Heyd was AMA president in 1936-37, many years before any U.S. city started fluoridating its water. His opposition was not “based on the latest medical research.”

The AMA supports water fluoridation.

l

l


The Campaignfor Dental Health

iLikeMyTeeth.org


A national campaign is launched

1. Create a network of CWF advocates who can share ideas and support one another

2. Improve the quality and accuracy of web content about oral health and CWF

3. Provide state and local advocates with fact sheets and other communication materials

The Campaign for Dental Health(I Like My Teeth.org)


Some of our campaign partners

A campaign with diverse partners:


The web presence


The web presence

Allowing advocates to create a locally customized web presence for their CWF campaign


What You Can Do?


Is your water fluoridated?

Find out by going online and entering into your search engine these words: my water’s fluoride


Share the facts in your community

1. The leading health and medical experts agree that fluoridation is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay.

2. Fluoridated water benefits people of all ages and incomes without requiring them to spend extra money or change their routine.

3. Every $1 invested in fluoridated water saves $38 by eliminating the need for fillings and other, more costly dental treatments.


of these and other oral health issues by receiving Pew's monthly e-newsletter –

Dental News & Views.

Send an email to [email protected] with the words “Sign me up"

in the subject line.

Keep informed . . .

Health & Medicine

Priester conf matt j (april 2012) final