Grand Rapids, Michigan, becomes the first city in the world to have its water supply fluoridated. Today, more than half of Americans drink fluoridated water, making the United States one of the most fluoridated populations in the world. The initial trial in Grand Rapids, adding fluoride to the water, aimed to assess the long-term (10-year) effect on the population’s dental health. The trial was (prematurely) declared a success, and the program was extended nationwide. In Europe, however, the program was discontinued, with the use of only fluoride-based toothpastes (supplied mostly by American multinationals like P&G and Colgate) being preferred.
