Utah appears to be the pioneer state aiming to implement a complete ban on fluoride in public water systems through legislation that prohibits cities or communities from individually determining whether to add this cavity-preventing mineral.
A sponsor of the bill along with an organization against water fluoridation indicated that Utah’s initiative could establish a significant precedent across the U.S. This development unfolds as the new federal health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced doubts regarding water fluoridation, which has been hailed as one of the major public health successes of the last century.
Kennedy stated in a post on X in November, “Fluoride is an industrial waste linked to arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, loss of IQ, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.”
However, dental professionals widely contest this view.
Dr. Aaron Yancoskie, associate dean of academic affairs at Touro College of Dental Medicine, mentioned on “CBS Mornings Plus” in November that there is “excellent, robust data spanning 75 years demonstrating that fluoride is both safe and highly effective at reducing dental decay, meaning cavities, by fortifying tooth enamel.”
The bill in Utah successfully navigated its final legislative stage on Friday and is now awaiting approval from Governor Spencer Cox. A spokesperson for Cox did not provide an immediate response regarding his intentions to sign the bill.
Some cities nationwide have already removed fluoride from their water supply, with others contemplating similar actions. A few months back, a federal judge directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to oversee fluoride levels in drinking water due to the potential risks to children’s cognitive development associated with elevated levels.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in 2022, Utah ranked 44th in the country for the percentage of residents receiving fluoridated water. Approximately 40% of Utah residents using community water systems have access to fluoridated water.
Supporters of the bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Stephanie Gricius and state Sen. Kirk Cullimore, argue that fluoridation presents an unnecessary expense.
“I acknowledge that fluoride can have positive effects, which is why the bill also facilitates the deregulation of the prescription,” Gricius remarked in a text to The Associated Press, alluding to fluoride supplements. “This isn’t anti-fluoride legislation; it promotes informed consent and individual choice.”
Lorna Koci, chair of the Utah Oral Health Coalition, asserted that fluoridation remains the most cost-effective method to prevent tooth decay on a larger scale.
“I believe those opposed to fluoride are taking advantage of Kennedy’s stance and using it as a strategy to undermine water fluoridation,” Koci stated.
She highlighted that for many, fluoridated public water serves as the sole means of preventive dental care, with its effects being particularly pronounced among low-income residents in Utah.
The CDC notes that fluoride bolsters teeth and diminishes cavities by replenishing minerals lost from everyday wear. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of the U.S. populace consumes fluoridated water.
Among the 484 water systems in Utah that reported to the CDC in 2024, only 66 provided fluoridated water, as shown by an analysis from the Associated Press. The largest of these systems is in Salt Lake City, the state’s most populous city.
In 2023, voters in Brigham City, located north of Salt Lake City, rejected a proposal to eliminate fluoride from public water supplies by a margin exceeding two-to-one.
Val Radmall, executive director of the Utah Dental Association, stated that he and colleagues met with Gricius in hopes of persuading her to reconsider the bill. Having worked in a community without fluoride for three decades, he remarked on the visible consequences of its absence.
“I’d often see a patient come in without cavities and ask, ‘You didn’t grow up here, did you? Where are you from?’ … because everyone here has numerous cavities!” he noted.
