The Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention could soon make new recommendations for fluoride and its role in public drinking water. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of HHS, is directing the CDC to convene a panel of 15 health experts to assess the role of fluoride in public water and what effects it may have for public health.
The United States first started adding fluoride to public water in 1945; and by 1962, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended the addition of fluoride to public water.
Fluoride has proven to be an effective public health tool for oral health, and according to the American Dental Association, it prevents tooth decay in children and adults by 25%. The safety and efficacy of fluoride in public drinking water has been well established with decades of support from research and multiple public health organizations, particularly at the concentration that currently exist in the U.S. which is less than 0.7 mg/L.
The HHS has previously cited concerns that fluoride could be connected with lower IQs in children. The study cited was based off the National Toxicology Program that concluded with moderate confidence that fluoride levels at or above 1.5 mg/L could be associated with lower IQs in children.
Although found to be safe at the levels currently in public water, fluoride could pose a threat at higher concentration levels. In fact, nearly 15% of children can experience tooth discoloration at fluoride concentrations exceeding 2 mg/L, according to the National Kidney Foundation. In addition, when concentrations exceed 4 mg/L, problems associated with joint pain, bony deformities and increased risk for fractures in bones can occur.
However, at the concentration that currently exists in public water (less than 0.7 mg/L), the benefits of fluoride in water are enormous. In 2022, more than 209 million Americans had access to fluoridated water that subsequently helped prevent tooth decay, according to the CDC. Children living in fluoridated communities have lower caries related treatment costs when compared to children living in non-fluoridated communities.
The investigation into fluoride and water seems to be a waste of federal resources and taxpayer dollars, particularly since decades of research has already convincingly shown its efficacy. The situation is analogous to the HHS looking into studies to find a link between vaccines and autism. Decades of research has shown no link whatsoever between vaccines and autism, yet the HHS is willing to pursue studies to determine a possible association.
Make no mistake about it- removing fluoride from public water will harm Americans. Nearly 70 million Americans lack dental insurance, which could mean billions of dollars spent on treating cavities if fluoride was removed from public water. Although fluoride is found in toothpastes, there are millions of Americans who lack access to toothpaste or cannot afford to go to the dentist and rely on fluoridation in water for oral health.
There is no harm in questioning scientific evidence. The basis of science is the scientific method which seeks to formulate questions to arrive at deeper answers to important questions. However, the questions and inquiries being formulated by the current administration have answers that have been well documented through a multitude of studies.
Original article online at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/omerawan/2025/04/12/hhs-and-cdc-to-examine-role-of-fluoride-in-public-water/