Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Health Science and Human Ecology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Kethireddy, Swatantra

Abstract

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral and studies have shown that when added to community water supplies, it effectively reduces dental caries. According to the U.S. Public Health Services (PHS), 0.7mg/L is the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay. This study focuses on examining the fluoride levels in water in San Bernardino County (SBC) and Riverside County (RC). Data is collected from recently published articles, databases along with assessing the laboratory water sample (n=45) analysis to determine if the fluoride levels are meeting the optimal standards. In SBC, there are total of 154 water systems with an average of 1.16mg/L, out of which 27 are fluoridated and ranging from 0.03 mg/L to 1.59 mg/L, while 127 systems are non-fluoridated, exhibiting range between 0.02 mg/L and 0.59 mg/L. Similarly, in RC out of 117 water supplies with an average 0.31mg/L, 33 are fluoridated with the range of 0.75mg/L - 1.35 mg/L and 80 are non-fluoridated which falls between 0.01mg/L-0.67mg/L. The Hach 1910 Quantitative Fluoride sodium 2-parasulfophenylazo-1,8-dihydroxy-3,6-naphthalene disulfonate (SPADNS) method was used in the laboratory which uses spectrophotometric absorbance concentration on a calibration graph to estimate the fluoride levels in community waters. The results indicate most of the water supplies have fluoride below the standard level. Fluoride promotes remineralization making the teeth stronger and resistant to decay. These results underscore the vital role of water fluoridation as a preventive public health strategy and emphasize the necessity for adjusting water fluoride levels. In conclusion, maintaining the recommended fluoride levels in treated water system not only prevents tooth decay but also reduces the cost of dental care.

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