The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded 51 Michigan water systems with its Water Fluoridation Quality Award for the year. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Lynn Sutfin tells WSJM News most municipal water systems in the state add fluoride.
“It helps individuals in the community simply by using the water, whether they’re drinking it, using it to brush their teeth, however they’re using it,” Sutfin said. “It helps prevent tooth decay. In fact, water fluoridation has been recognized by the CDC as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century.”
The CDC gave its fluoridation awards to more than 1,600 municipal water systems around the country. Here in southwest Michigan, systems to be awarded are St. Joseph, Benton Township, New Buffalo, Bangor, Hartford, and Allegan. Sutfin says the awards went to those systems that showed consistency in the practice.
