Utah becomes first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, with Gov. Spencer Cox signing the bill this week to make it official.

Under the bill, no one can add fluoride to existing public water systems or to water that will be added in the future.

Donald Chi, a pediatric dentist and professor at the University of Washington said fluoride is a mineral that’s naturally present in some water sources.

It occurs naturally in rocks and in water and in soil and so it’s not a man-made chemical,” Chi said.

According to the American Dental Association, fluoride has a long list of benefits. Including helping to prevent cavities and strengthening tooth enamel.

Water fluoridation is one tool that we have to help prevent cavities at the community level. So it’s absolutely important,” said Chi.

However, some have expressed doubts about its benefits, including HHS Secretary RFK Jr.

Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” he wrote on X just days before the presidential election.

Felicia Rabito, a professor of epidemiology at Tulane University said the data proves community fluoridation programs, which adjust fluoride in public drinking water to proper levels for preventing cavities, have benefitted Americans.

The levels that we allow fluoride in the water, 0.7 parts per million, have shown to reduce dental caries by approximately 25%,” Rabito said.

But she said she believes if there are concerns the public health community needs to address them.

Hopefully, these discussions that will occur throughout the United States and perhaps in the other states that are considering similar legislation will take the data into account — the good data, the quality of the science,” said Rabito.

The bill allows pharmacists in the state of Utah to prescribe fluoride supplements but the Division of Professional Licensing will establish the specific guidelines for those prescriptions.