Updated on February 24, 2025
5 min read

Arkansas Water Fluoride: Updated Statistics

NewMouth is reader supported. We may earn a commission if you purchase something using one of our links. Advertising Disclosure.

Arkansas has gained attention for its rapid and widespread adoption of community water fluoridation, achieving some of the highest coverage levels in the southern United States. This article highlights updated statistics from the past two decades, presenting key data points, trends, and regional comparisons for easy reference.

While more communities than ever benefit from fluoridated water, certain regions still face coverage gaps and compliance challenges. The data below offers an in-depth look at Arkansas’s progress, focusing on coverage rates, population impact, and cost-related outcomes.

Below are several noteworthy statistics that illustrate Arkansas’s evolving position in water fluoridation:

  • Arkansas’s community water fluoridation coverage grew from 63.2% in 2006 to 85.4% in 2023.
  • Nearly 2.87 million residents currently receive fluoridated water through community systems.
  • Children in fluoridated counties saw a 25-40% drop in dental caries over this period.
  • Fluoridated water is associated with an annual savings of $32.19 per person in dental costs.

These figures underscore the broad impact of water fluoridation in Arkansas. The following sections provide more detailed data on implementation, compliance, and outcomes, offering a statistical resource for those researching public health measures in the region.

Historical Coverage Patterns

The growth in Arkansas water fluoridation stands out when considering earlier baselines and subsequent statewide initiatives.

  • In 2006, 63.2% of the state’s residents served by community water systems received fluoridated water.
  • By 2012, coverage reached 74.6% following upgrades in infrastructure.
  • Mid-sized cities such as Jonesboro increased fluoridation coverage from 58% to 94% after legal requirements took effect.
  • A 35.7% relative increase occurred statewide between 2011 and 2020, outpacing the 2.3% national growth rate.

This progression highlights how legislative mandates and coordinated public health initiatives contributed to steady gains in coverage. The table below offers a year-by-year look at statewide fluoridation rates.

YearFluoridation CoveragePopulation Served
200663.2%~2.5M
201274.6%~2.71M
201685.6%~2.78M
202086.7%~2.87M
202385.4%~2.87M

These coverage levels establish Arkansas as a leading state in the southern region, with most of its population benefiting from fluoridated tap water.

Compliance and Infrastructure Data

Ongoing monitoring and equipment standards have helped Arkansas maintain high compliance with state and federal guidelines.

  • Approximately 97.3% of public water systems in Arkansas met organic contaminant standards as of 2023.
  • There were 0 Maximum Contaminant Level violations for nitrates or radionuclides reported in recent data.
  • State guidelines target a 0.7 mg/L fluoride concentration (±0.1 mg/L), with at least five grab samples per week.
  • Eight counties remain without fluoridated systems, primarily affecting smaller communities.

The statistics reflect a well-coordinated effort to ensure water quality and safety. The following table summarizes common compliance indicators currently monitored in Arkansas.

IndicatorStatusNotable Data
Organic ContaminantsWithin Standards97.3% Compliance
NitratesNo Violations0 MCL Incidents
RadionuclidesNo Violations0 MCL Incidents
Fluoride LevelsTarget Achieved0.7 mg/L ± 0.1 mg/L

This framework emphasizes stable, high-quality water treatment infrastructure, making Arkansas's community water fluoridation program widely recognized for consistent adherence to public health standards.

Dental Health Outcomes

Improvements in dental health among children and adults highlight the potential benefits of extensive fluoridation coverage.

  • 25-40% reduction in childhood tooth decay in fluoridated counties.
  • A 3:1 ratio of school absenteeism reported between non-fluoridated and fluoridated districts.
  • Emergency dental visits were 63% lower in rural areas with fluoridated water systems compared to similar non-fluoridated communities.
  • Low-income children without fluoridation faced a 50% higher risk of caries.

These findings show how fluoridation correlates with tangible health benefits, especially in communities with limited dental care access. The data below illustrates selected outcome metrics.

Outcome MetricNon-Fluoridated AreasFluoridated Areas
Childhood Caries Prevalence~60%~35%
School Absenteeism (Ratio)3:11:3
Emergency Dental Visits (Rural)Higher63% Lower

As more Arkansas counties achieved full compliance, these statistics indicate a direct link between higher coverage rates and better oral health markers.

Regional Comparisons

When stacked against neighboring states, Arkansas ranks near the top in water fluoridation coverage across the South.

  • 85.4% coverage in Arkansas, compared to 79.8% in Louisiana and 72.1% in Mississippi.
  • Tennessee maintains around 89.3% coverage, one of the highest in the region.
  • Texas reaches 88.8% coverage, driven largely by local control measures.
  • Oklahoma stands at 81.2% but faces ongoing tribal system gaps in rural communities.

Arkansas’s steady progression in fluoridation has been compared to states with mandates and those with voluntary programs. Below is a table showing how Arkansas measures up to nearby counterparts.

StateCoverage RatePopulation Served (Approx.)Growth Trend
Arkansas85.4%2.87M2011-2016: +14.8%
Louisiana79.8%3.2MCoastal Disparities
Mississippi72.1%1.7M2016-2020: -3.2%
Tennessee89.3%6.3MHigh CDC Recognition
Texas88.8%22M0.7 ppm Standardization
Oklahoma81.2%2.9MTribal System Gaps

Regionally, Arkansas’s coverage is outpaced slightly by Tennessee and Texas, but it leads neighboring Louisiana and Mississippi by significant margins. In addition, states with clear mandates tend to see faster coverage growth than those relying on voluntary adoption.

Economic and Social Impact

The cost-effectiveness of community water fluoridation is frequently cited as a key factor in its adoption.

  • Arkansans in fluoridated areas save an estimated $32.19 per person annually in dental treatments.
  • This amounts to millions of dollars in cumulative health savings statewide each year.
  • Low-income areas benefit most substantially, with fewer emergency dental visits and reduced child absenteeism from untreated tooth decay.
  • Smaller systems serving under 500 residents represent about 14% of non-compliant coverage gaps in the state.

Public health experts often highlight the dual benefit of reduced dental costs and improved educational outcomes for children. Overall, these statistics underscore why many communities find water fluoridation an appealing and cost-saving measure.

Key Statistics Summary

  • Statewide CWF coverage stands at 85.4% in 2023.
  • An estimated 2.87 million Arkansans have access to fluoridated public water.
  • Childhood caries rates are 25-40% lower in fluoridated counties.
  • Annual per-person savings of $32.19 are linked to fluoridation.
  • Arkansas outpaced national fluoridation growth by a 35.7% relative increase between 2011 and 2020.

From lowered caries rates to cost savings, Arkansas’s data demonstrates measurable improvements in oral health and economic outcomes. With a broad coverage base already in place, these statistics offer valuable insights for researchers and communities examining the impact of community water fluoridation across the region.

Last updated on February 24, 2025
16 Sources Cited
Last updated on February 24, 2025
All NewMouth content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed dentist or orthodontist to ensure the information is factual, current, and relevant.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only cite from current scientific research, such as scholarly articles, dentistry textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. This also includes information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  1. America's Health Rankings: Water Fluoridation. United Health Foundation, 2023.
  2. Arkansas Community Water Fluoridation Policy. Arkansas Department of Health, 2021.
  3. Arkansas Drinking Water Compliance Report 2023. Arkansas Department of Health, 2023.
  4. Arkansas Fluoride Scrapping News. Newsweek, 2024.
  5. Arkansas State Oral Health Plan 2023-2028. Arkansas Department of Health, 2023.
  6. Arkansas Water Fluoridation Coverage Metrics. Clear Impact, 2023.
  7. CDC 2020 Water Fluoridation Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021.
  8. CDC Community Water Fluoridation Timeline. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022.
  9. Fluoride Fact Sheet. Beaver Water District, 2024.
  10. Missouri CWF Toolkit. Missouri Coalition for Oral Health, 2013.
  11. NTMWD Fluoridation. North Texas Municipal Water District, 2024.
  12. Organic Contaminants in CWF. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2023.
  13. Progress in Water Fluoridation. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2019.
  14. Tennessee CDC Fluoridation Awards. Tennessee Department of Health, 2014.
  15. Water fluoridation in the United States (Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation, 2023.
  16. Wellahead LA: Community Water Fluoridation. Well-Ahead Louisiana, 2023.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram