Utah has become the first US state to ban the addition of fluoride to drinking water, ignoring warnings from dentists and health experts. This decision could have serious consequences for the dental health of children and adults. Fluoride has been added to public water supplies in over 20 countries worldwide for decades and has been proven to reduce tooth decay, especially in areas with high sugar intake and limited access to dental care. However, right-wing politicians, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his controversial health views, are leading a campaign against water fluoridation. Kennedy has announced plans to request the CDC to revoke national recommendations for adding fluoride to water. Opponents spread misinformation about fluoride’s toxicity, linking it to arthritis, bone cancer, IQ loss, and other diseases, despite a lack of high-quality scientific evidence supporting these claims. Health experts warn that such bans could have negative global consequences, as fluoride is a key public health policy for preventing tooth decay. Instead of fluoridating water, freedom-of-choice advocates propose selling fluoride tablets, but these are expensive and not accessible to all, potentially deepening health inequalities. This debate is part of a broader trend of spreading misinformation about public health, which could undermine trust in health policies and worsen population health.
