HHS Recommends Lower Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water

January 10, 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a federal proposal to reduce the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water to prevent a discoloration and pitting of the teeth known as dental fluorosis. The proposal is based in part on EPA assessments that were prompted by a 2006 National Research Council report, which recommended that EPA reconsider its fluoride standards to take into account health effects such as dental fluorosis and consider all sources, including toothpaste and mouthwash, of fluoride exposure.