Utah lawmakers have passed a bill banning fluoride in public water systems, preventing cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral, long recognized for its role in preventing tooth decay.
Kenya Hunter reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The bill, which now awaits Gov. Spencer Cox’s approval, would make Utah the first state to fully prohibit water fluoridation.
- Supporters argue fluoridation is costly and should be a personal choice, while opponents, including public health experts, warn that eliminating it could harm dental health, especially for low-income residents.
- Fluoride is widely used in U.S. water systems to reduce cavities, but opposition has grown, partly influenced by skepticism from federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Key quote:
“I’d have a patient come in without cavities or anything else like that, and I’d say, ‘You didn’t grow up here. Where did you grow up?’ ... because everybody here has lots of cavities!”
— Val Radmall, executive director of the Utah Dental Association, who spent three decades working in non-fluoridated communities
Why this matters:
For decades, fluoride in drinking water has been credited with dramatically reducing cavities and dental disease, especially among children. Public health officials see it as a straightforward and cost-effective measure, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hailing it as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.
But fluoridation has long been a flashpoint in debates over public health and individual choice, and recent research suggests it poses real risks — including to children's developing brains. While major health organizations, including the American Dental Association, endorse the practice as safe and effective, some critics question its necessity, citing concerns over potential health risks.
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