City of Lake Winnebago earns award for community water fluoridation

For Immediate Release
July 29, 2024

Media Contact:
Lisa Cox
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) has announced that the City of Lake Winnebago has been awarded a 2023 Reaffirmation Award from the American Dental Association (ADA), Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for continuously adjusting and maintaining the amount of fluoride in drinking water for the prevention of tooth decay in adults and children. This award recognizes those communities that defeated an initiative to discontinue community water fluoridation.

Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that a community can make in maintaining the oral health and thus the overall health of its citizens. It is equally effective in preventing cavities in children and adults. Fluoridation is time-tested, equitable and cost effective. Studies continue to show that the economic benefit of fluoridation programs exceed their cost. An individual can enjoy a lifetime of fluoridated water for less than the cost of one dental filling.

"More than ever, we recognize the value of prevention, and the role community water fluoridation can play in helping to prevent a disease that affects the health of children and adults," said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, state dental director with DHSS.

Community water fluoridation is recognized by the CDC as one of the 10 great achievements in public health of the twentieth century.

"We congratulate the City of Lake Winnebago on this achievement and a thank them for providing safe, dependable drinking water for their community while also assuring an important preventive health benefit," said Miller.

For more information about water fluoridation and dental health in Missouri, please visit the DHSS Dental Health webpage.