If fluoride is removed from public water supplies, American children may face a sharp rise in dental issues. According to a study published May 30 in JAMA Health Forum, removing fluoride from U.S. drinking water could lead to 25.4 million additional cases of tooth decay in the next five years.
Researchers built a national model using oral health data from over 8,000 children. The projections revealed a concerning future for children’s dental health if fluoride is phased out of community water systems.
Tooth Decay Surge Tied to Fluoride Ban
The study modeled what would happen if fluoride in drinking water was eliminated. It predicted that nearly one in three children could suffer from new cavities within five years.
The simulation suggests a fluoride ban would result in an added 25.4 million decayed teeth across the country. In financial terms, that means Americans could face $9.8 billion in extra dental care costs over five years—and $19.4 billion over ten.
“We know fluoride works. We’re able to show just how much it works for most communities and how much people stand to lose if we get rid of it,” said Lisa Simon, MD, DMD, senior author of the study.
Simon noted that much of the increased cost burden would fall on the public, especially since many affected children are covered by government insurance.
What Fluoride Does for Dental Health
Fluoride plays a key role in strengthening teeth. It helps replace minerals lost through daily wear and reduces the risk of cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The U.S. began supporting water fluoridation in 1950 as a preventive measure against tooth decay. As of a 2022 CDC report, over 60% of the population receives fluoridated water from about 17,000 community water systems.
Research has credited fluoridation with lowering tooth decay rates by more than 25% in both children and adults.
Policy Shifts and Growing Concerns
Currently, states like Florida and Utah have banned the addition of fluoride in public water systems. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed plans to direct the CDC to stop recommending water fluoridation entirely.
Kennedy also mentioned he is forming a task force to re-evaluate fluoridation policies and issue updated health guidance.
As national health officials debate the issue, researchers warn that removing fluoride in drinking water could have widespread consequences for millions of American children—and taxpayers.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
