Utah becomes first US state to ban fluoride in public drinking water
Dentists prepare for an increase in decay among vulnerable people.
Dentists who treat children and low-income patients say they are preparing for an increase in tooth decay among the state’s most vulnerable people.
Utah’s Republican governor, Spencer Cox, signed the law against the recommendation of many dentists and national health experts who warned removing fluoride would harm tooth development, especially in young patients without regular access to dental care.
The bill’s sponsor, the Republican representative Stephanie Gricius, said she does not dispute that fluoride can have some benefits but thinks people should not be given it by the government without their informed consent.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, applauded Utah for being the first state to enact a ban and said he plans to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending fluoridation nationwide.
Florida could soon become the second state to ban fluoride under a bill awaiting the signature of its Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. The Ohio and South Carolina legislatures are considering similar measures.