Final answer:
The claim that drinking fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental caries is an FDA approved health claim for food labels. Fluoride helps to reduce tooth decay significantly but must be carefully regulated to avoid the risks of fluorosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "Drinking fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental caries" is an FDA approved health claim that can be used on food labels. Community water fluoridation is recognized as a cost-effective method for delivering fluoride to the population, which in turn helps to reduce tooth decay by about 25% in both children and adults. While fluoride-containing products like toothpaste and mouth rinses also contribute to preventing dental caries, fluoridated water serves as a widespread preventative measure.
Nevertheless, it's important to maintain optimal levels of fluoride in drinking water to prevent side effects such as dental and skeletal fluorosis, which can occur in areas with naturally high levels of fluoride in groundwater. Hence, the Safe Drinking Water Act regulates the levels of fluoride in public water supplies to safeguard public health.