Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is actively fulfilling his commitment to eliminate fluoride from the water supply. Currently, Kennedy is touring various states, advocating for local governments to discontinue the use of the mineral. During a press conference in Utah, which became the first state to impose a ban on fluoridated water since Kennedy took office, he announced plans to instruct the CDC to revise its guidelines and initiate a new study examining the health implications of fluoride.
According to the CDC, approximately 63% of the US population has access to fluoridated water. Many US health professionals consider the fluoridation of water—an optional measure adopted by local water systems—as one of the most significant achievements in public health, comparable to the realization that smoking is harmful.
In contrast, Kennedy, who previously worked as an environmental attorney and played a crucial role in the Hudson River cleanup in New York, argues that there is no longer a need for fluoride in drinking water since most toothpaste already contains fluoride. He is not the only one with this perspective; the discourse surrounding fluoride is reigniting interest among scientists and legal experts. Recent studies have indicated that deeper investigation is necessary regarding safe fluoride concentrations for children. Additionally, a federal ruling in California in early 2024 questioned the government’s recommended fluoride dosage.
While many medical professionals, primarily dentists, endorse some level of fluoride, there is a growing consensus that the exact amount of fluoride that may be detrimental remains uncertain. A historical reference points to 120 years ago when fluoride was identified as the potential cause of brown teeth in Colorado.
A third-grade student participates in a dental health initiative that uses specially formulated fluoride toothpaste to minimize dental decay among schoolchildren, circa 1969.
Determining the exact benefits of fluoridated water in cavity prevention is challenging, partly due to the numerous advancements in dental care since the 1940s, as fluoridated water is not the sole method contributing to improved dental health. Moreover, the recent California ruling did not stipulate specific directives for the EPA regarding this uncertainty; it merely suggested some form of “regulatory action” on fluoride. The court highlighted that the findings do not conclusively establish that fluoridated water poses a threat to public health.
A federal judge is calling on the EPA to clarify whether a fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter is sufficiently safe. Historically, the EPA has regarded the reassessment of its fluoride guidelines as a “low priority” task. Generally, public health experts and dentists agree that fluoridated tap water is a secure, efficient, and equitable means of ensuring sufficient fluoride intake to prevent the majority of childhood cavities. However, consensus on the ideal fluoride concentration in tap water that would promote dental health is still pending among scientists.
