Speak up to protect your community’s health. Contact your local officials and urge them to keep fluoride in our public water systems.
Utah set to become first state to ban fluoride in public water systems
Utah is set to become the first state to ban fluoride in public water systems, with a bill on the matter awaiting the governor’s approval.
Straight Arrow News
- Fluoride in water is a safe and inexpensive way to reduce cavities by 25%-50%.
- Removing fluoride would disproportionately impact children and low-income individuals who have limited access to dental care.
- Claims of negative health effects from fluoride have been debunked by experts.
Imagine a world where a simple, cost-effective measure to prevent pain, missed school days, and costly medical complications is suddenly taken away. This could become a reality in Tennessee counties as the state legislature considers removing fluoride from community water systems.
Stopping fluoridation will harm children and adults. Fluoride is a one of many naturally occurring minerals found in nearly all water, including the ocean. Adjusting the fluoride level in water up, or down, to optimal levels (0.7 ppm), is an effective, safe and inexpensive strategy that reduces cavities by 25%-50%. It is especially effective in improving the health of vulnerable children and adults where brushing, flossing and applying fluoride is challenging.
For many people, especially children, fluoridation is the only preventive dental care they receive. Reducing cavities also reduces missed school days for kids, missed work for parents, and it lowers health care costs for families and taxpayers.
Opponents how bad the pre-fluoridation days were
One of the authors of this guest opinion column works at a large academic children’s hospital in Tennessee, caring for young patients. I have treated children who required hospitalization for blood infections, brain infections and other complications originating from tooth decay.
Thanks to water fluoridation, these serious conditions have become much less common, showcasing the powerful impact of this simple public health measure. Fluoridation is a victim of its own success and many people have forgotten how bad complications of poor dental health can be.
Opponents of fluoridation claim children could simply receive a prescription for fluoride rinses or tablets. As a pediatrician and a dentist, we know this is neither practical nor effective compared to water fluoridation.
Acquiring a prescription requires an office visit which results in missed school or work. Anyone who has attempted to brush or apply fluoride to the teeth of a small child or disabled adult knows this can be difficult or even impossible. Supplements and topical fluoride are costly and not nearly as effective as water fluoridation.
Accusations of lowering children’s IQ has been debunked
While any substance taken in excess can be harmful, including vitamins, water and milk, optimally fluoridated water at recommended levels is safe.There is over 75 years of real-world evidence and over 7,000 studies on water fluoridation. Anyone can cite a few studies with potential adverse effects.
The recent study on high fluoride exposure in non-U.S. countries (mainly China and India) and children’s IQ has been resoundingly criticized by experts due to serious flaws in the conduct and analysis of the study as well as lack of relevance to the low fluoride levels in U.S. water systems.
The medical community does not ignore Adverse findings. They are rigorously evaluated and repeated by medical, dental and public health experts. The few studies with adverse findings have been largely refuted by experts due to experimental flaws or by additional controlled studies with contradictory findings, such as the case with children’s IQ.
Fluoridation is supported by nearly every health organization in the world including the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is one of the most successful public health measures of the past century. In 2025, based on the most up-to-date evidence, the overwhelming scientific consensus is that fluoridation is safe and beneficial.
Like most parents, we worry about the health and welfare of our children. We sleep better knowing our families and over 207 million U.S. residents, enjoy the benefits of fluoridation and will therefore have a better chance of avoiding cavities and living healthy lives. Speak up to protect your community’s health. Contact your local officials and urge them to keep fluoride in our public water systems. Together, we can ensure healthier smiles and brighter futures for our everyone.
James W. Antoon the elder is a dentist in Nashville. James W. Antoon the younger is a physician scientist and drug safety researcher in Nashville.
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