Posted on 04/23/2025 1:07:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Here's what you need to know about this hot button topic.
Key Points:
-Political controversy has stoked new conversations around the fluoridation of water and whether the mineral is safe to consume.
-Water fluoridation, or the practice of adding fluoride to sources of drinking water, has been credited as one of the greatest public health innovations of the 20th century and helps protect tooth enamel and prevent cavities.
-Dental experts and research say that water fluoridation provides vital dental support for communities, is proven to reduce rates of tooth decay, and is safe when kept at recommended concentrations. Although the addition of fluoride to drinking water has been credited for protecting the dental health of millions of Americans, it has also been a topic of controversy for decades, and the debate has recently been reignited.
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has clearly expressed his opposition to water fluoridation. Recently, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water, and late last year, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued public guidance advising communities against fluoridating their water.
While some celebrate it as a public health triumph, others question the safety and necessity of adding fluoride to drinking water. Let's explore what fluoride is, its history in water fluoridation, and what current research reveals about its implications for our health.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, water, and certain foods. It is best known for its ability to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. When fluoride is applied to teeth, it helps rebuild enamel and may reverse early signs of tooth decay.
According to the CDC, “Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities.” Due to its potential benefits for dental health, fluoride has been widely added to dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, as well as to public water supplies.
Why is fluoride added to water in the United States? The practice of adding fluoride to drinking water began in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, when researchers embarked on a project to determine if water fluoridation would effectively reduce the rate of tooth decay among local children. The results were clear: Kids born after fluoride was introduced to the water supply experienced a 60% reduction in their rate of tooth decay. (Today, it's estimated that water fluoridation lessens your risk of cavities by about 25%.)
These findings made the research a remarkable success, and fluoridation became widespread across the United States in the following decades. The CDC has previously recognized community water fluoridation as "one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century." By increasing the accessibility of fluoride, public health officials have observed significant improvements in dental health, particularly in communities with limited access to professional dental care.
However, water fluoridation has its opponents. Criticism of the practice has existed since its inception, and the debate over whether consuming fluoride is safe, as well as whether communities should have access to water without it, continues into 2025.
How does fluoride improve your dental health?
Fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel and ultimately helps prevent cavities. According to the CDC, “Studies continue to show that widespread community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, both for families and the health care system. Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults.”
Dr. Lauren Becker, DDS, PC, owner and general dentist of her namesake dentistry practice in New York City, explains further, telling Food & Wine that “Fluoride acts as a dental barrier between teeth and helps keep the teeth strong during everyday use like chewing, drinking, and eating.” She adds, “Fluoride creates a shield so that the tooth is protected from potential bacteria, plaque, and overall buildup from occurring.”
Is fluoride in water safe?
Opponents of water fluoridation, including RFK Jr., have raised concerns that the mineral is linked to various health and developmental issues, such as cancer, weakened bones, and declines in IQ. But is there any merit to their claims?
A little background information is helpful here. To maximize the benefits of this mineral in water systems, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in drinking water, which is considered optimal for preventing tooth decay while minimizing potential side effects.
In 2024 the National Toxicology Program (NTP) published a systematic review of research surrounding the connection between fluoride and cognitive development. This study did discover that higher levels of fluoride, such as those found in drinking water with more than 1.5 mg/L of fluoride, “are associated with lower IQ in children.”
A level of fluoride greater than 1.5 mg/L would exceed the guidelines for drinking water set by the World Health Organization and could lead to issues such as dental fluorosis — a cosmetic issue that causes discoloration of tooth enamel — or, more concerningly, skeletal fluorosis — a bone disorder.
The NTP notes that “There were insufficient data to determine if the low fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L currently recommended for U.S. community water supplies has a negative effect on children’s IQ,” and it “found no evidence that fluoride exposure had adverse effects on adult cognition.”
These findings suggest that further research is necessary to gain a clearer understanding of the connection between lower levels of fluoride (like those found in water supplies) and IQ.
Per Becker, beyond cognitive development, “There are speculations that fluoride in our drinking water may cause alternative health issues like thyroid problems or impact bone health. However, this is not scientifically backed.” The dental professional explains, “It's true that overexposure to fluoride has the potential to create other issues, but this is unlikely to occur from the safe amounts in drinking water.”
Finally, a majority of health resources, including the American Cancer Society and City of Hope — a nonprofit clinical research center for cancer — note that there is no clear or conclusive link between fluoride and cancer.
How much fluoride is in my water?
Want to ensure your drinking water has an appropriate level of fluoridation? To check the fluoride levels in your community's water supply, the CDC offers a helpful tool called My Water's Fluoride. This online resource allows users to verify if their local water is fluoridated and at what concentration.
Can removing fluoride from water cause harm?
Calgary, Canada, presents a relatively recent example of what can happen if a community decides to remove fluoride from its water.
After eliminating the mineral from its water supply in 2011, the city observed a significant increase in tooth decay and related issues — particularly among children — when compared to another major city in its province that had continued water fluoridation.
As a result, Calgary voted to reinstate water fluoridation in 2021 in response to the increase in tooth decay, although the mineral has not yet been successfully reintroduced.
What are the long term impacts of fluoride?
Supporting the strength of your teeth isn’t just about achieving a picture-perfect smile. Dental health can impact overall health, quality of life, and financial well-being.
If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to pain, infections, and even tooth loss, potentially affecting daily activities such as eating or speaking. Furthermore, the economic burden associated with dental issues can be substantial, as fillings, root canals, and extractions often incur high costs for individuals and healthcare systems.
Why Drinking Bottled Water Can Be Much Worse for You Than Tap, According to New Research
Per the CDC, “Communities of 1,000 or more people see an average estimated return on investment (ROI) of $20 for every $1 spent on water fluoridation. The ROI for community water fluoridation increases as the community size increases, but even small communities save money.” Adults and children are also likely to miss fewer days of work or school for dental appointments.
Although more research is welcome and needed, as the facts stand, dental experts and scientists have made it clear that water fluoridation benefits both your teeth and the community, as long as it is maintained within recommended levels.
Of course it’s dangerous. Dopey article
Oh boy.
In before the holy war. Spurred by sudden all-in support of a Kennedy usually posted as “kook” in FR.
Sort of makes me wonder why the government is mandating it if there is any question about it. The government is obviously disinterested in my health, so why are they putting chemicals in my water “for my health?”
The debate about fluoride goes way farther back than Kennedy. In fact, I’ve never seen his opinion on this. Has he had something?
This has been a contentious issue for some on the political margins, but the science about fluoridation is compelling. The article makes clear that the appropriate dosage level is recognized and needs to be monitored. Too much of anything can be trouble.
Maybe fluoride is the culprit re autism, ADHD, etc.
But do a search on RFK/Jr.
The hypocrisy is unbelievable.
My mother would say that fluoride made a huge contribution - certainly from her beloved Crest having fluoride in it in the ‘50s.
Does it need to be in water? I don’t know, once we got fluoridated paste. But it didn’t hurt. Griping about “other issues” can be due to the simple fact of people living much longer on an exponential scale since the ‘40s. Everyone is going to get cancer - if you make it long enough.
Suddenly everyone on FR is a “health nut” paranoid about every single chemical (which everything in the world is).
I thin fluoride has been in water longer than the rise in autism.
When our kids were little, we talked to their doctor about using fluoride since we were on a well. She felt they were getting plenty through canned fruit, veggies etc.
Good point.
He has addressed it a LOT. Just Googled it and got a lot of hits. Says fluoride is “industrial waste” — which it is. He wants it gone, and believes it’s the cause of many health issues.
Enough fluoride in the water young enough and you may lose too many IQ points to figure out that it’s bad.
I hate the idea of fluoride. Won’t even use toothpaste that has it. Dentist always comments on my good teeth — “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
We have a water purifier that is supposed to filter out the fluoride.
I certainly disagree with him on most issues, but not everything.
Personally, a lot of these chemical they put in food aren’t allowed in other countries. And the U.S. is the only country that they sell so much HFCS. Think about it: The U.S. is allegedly a wealthier country than Mexico, but a U.S. company, Coke (Although the others too), sells a cheaper, inferior version of their product in the U.S., compared to Mexico, why is that? Companies dump cheaper, known less healthy products, in the U.S.
And where is does the hypocrisy end? Democrats/left used to complain about food additives/what corporations do, now they defend that?
Typical misdirection.
Is the concentration of fluoride in your water unsafe if you drink an eight ounce glass of tap water? No, obviously not.
Does all fluoride absorbed when you drink that water leave the body? Is there a natural metabolic pathway for fluoride? (not sure we know).
Is the amount of accumulated fluoride from ingestion through drinking water and cooking with water for 50 years safe?
the OlLine Rebel wrote: “In before the holy war. Spurred by sudden all-in support of a Kennedy usually posted as “kook” in FR.”
He is a kook but he’s an anti-vaccine kook so there are some on FR that love him.
Read up. When it was introduced, it was solely studied for tooth decay, but not for any other health effects...none.
It was a toxic waste by-product of the nuclear industry.
There are other ways today to get fluoride such as a rinse or toothpaste.
Anyway, since the main driver if tooth decay is poor oral hygiene and sugar drinks, contaminating the water is probably not the best choice.
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