There's Something in My Water!

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is the daily 'Profile America' feature for Jan. 26 from the U.S. Census Bureau:

MONDAY, JANUARY 26: FLUORIDATION BEGINS

Profile America -- Monday, Jan. 26. This week in 1945, the first U.S. city began to treat its public water supply with fluoride, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Now, more than 60 percent of Americans live in areas where the water is fluoridated, including 46 of the nation's top 50 cities. In the more than 50 years since the technique was first introduced, dental experts credit it with reducing tooth decay by as much as 40 percent. Fluoridation was and still is, not without its critics, who claim that its benefits are exaggerated and its toxicity underplayed. There are more than 144,000 dentists' offices in the U.S., and Americans spend an average of $214 a year taking care of their teeth. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at http://www.census.gov.