Two cities have stopped adding fluoride to their water supply

Two cities have stopped adding fluoride to their water supply, and recent studies reveal significant effects on public health.

This month, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced to the media that he would advise the CDC to discontinue its fluoride recommendations. The findings are troubling. Research from Calgary, Canada, and Juneau, Alaska, indicates that removing fluoride from drinking water results in a noticeable increase in childhood tooth decay. In Calgary, where fluoride was eliminated from the water supply in 2011, researchers discovered that second-graders experienced considerably higher rates of cavities compared to their peers in nearby Edmonton, where water fluoridation was maintained.
Likewise, in Juneau, stopping fluoridation in 2007 led to an uptick in dental treatments for young children, significantly raising healthcare costs. Experts caution that discontinuing fluoride—a proven, cost-effective public health measure—creates hidden healthcare expenses and exacerbates preventable dental health problems.
Although there are worries about weak evidence linking elevated fluoride levels to potential IQ decline, the majority of studies affirm that fluoridation is safe and effective when maintained at recommended levels. In 2021, Calgary residents voted to reinstate fluoride after public health advocates and researchers brought attention to the increasing issues related to tooth decay. Meanwhile, Juneau continues to lack fluoridated water, and an increasing number of communities across the U.S. are re-evaluating the practice. Health experts contend that stopping fluoridation based on misrepresented scientific evidence is not a cautious approach—it is a neglectful decision that could lead to greater public health challenges for future generations.
For further details, visit: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fluoride-drinking-water-dental-health