Utah Prohibits Fluoride in Public Water Supply

Utah Prohibits Fluoride in Public Water Supply

Utah has become the first state to outlaw fluoride in public drinking water, despite significant resistance from national health organizations and dental professionals.

Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed the bill into law late Thursday, preventing local municipalities from determining whether to incorporate fluoride into their water systems.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride plays a crucial role in strengthening teeth and minimizing cavities by restoring lost minerals.

Governor Cox, a Republican, enacted the fluoride prohibition as concerns over the additive’s potential health implications have gained traction, partly influenced by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assertions about its risks, despite longstanding endorsement from public health authorities.

Supporters of the ban in Utah argued that adding fluoride to public water is an unnecessary financial burden. Cox, who grew up and raised his children in an area without fluoridated water, recently likened it to being “medicated” by the government.

The decision follows shortly after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has questioned water fluoridation, assumed office as U.S. Health Secretary.

Nearly 200 million people in the United States, making up approximately two-thirds of the population, receive fluoridated water through community water systems. For decades, the controlled introduction of fluoride into drinking water has been regarded as one of the most significant public health advancements of the 20th century.

However, several cities nationwide have already discontinued water fluoridation, and others are contemplating similar action. A few months ago, a federal judge directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to oversee fluoride levels in drinking water, citing concerns that excessive exposure could negatively impact children's cognitive development.

Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, has reassured the public that the levels of fluoride typically added to drinking water remain well below any harmful threshold.

Critics of Utah’s fluoride prohibition warn that it will disproportionately impact lower-income communities, as many residents rely on fluoridated public water for essential dental health benefits. Families with limited financial resources may struggle to access regular dental care or afford fluoride supplements, which some individuals purchase in areas where water is not fluoridated.

Republican Representative Stephanie Gricius, the primary advocate behind Utah’s fluoride ban, acknowledged the mineral’s dental benefits but maintained that the matter ultimately comes down to “individual choice” rather than mandatory public policy.