WSSC Water reduces fluoride in drinking water as Iran war causes supply issues

Millions of people in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties have less fluoride in their water amid supply chain issues caused by the war in Iran, WSSC Water says.

The utility company said it reduced fluoride levels from 0.7 milligrams per liter, the optimal level for preventing cavities, to 0.4 milligrams per liter at its Potomac and Patuxent Water Filtration Plants on Tuesday afternoon.

Community water fluoridation is one of the greatest public health achievements of the past century, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health organizations.

“Statistics show it’s a 30% reduction in decay rates in the overall population. So it’s significant. World Health Organization has made it one of the top 10 health successes in the world,” said Dr. Charles Doring, a dentist and president of the Maryland State Dental Association.

WSSC Water said there have been significant disruptions to the fluoride market in recent months, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is impacting a major supplier in Israel.

The utility company said it will continue to get shipments, but in smaller quantities.

“This is a temporary adjustment driven solely by supply availability,” WSSC Water Director of Production Ben Thompson said in a news release. “We remain committed to maintaining safe, high-quality drinking water and will restore optimal fluoride levels as soon as supply conditions stabilize.”

If the supply problems drag on, Doring said people who are prone to cavities can talk to their dentist about fluoride products and prescriptions to use until the levels return to normal.