RFK Jr. Drops Bombshell on Fluoride Ban: “Expect More Cavities But That’s the Trade-Off
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is the Secretary of Health and Human Services, recently said that taking fluoride out of public drinking water might lead to more cavities in people’s teeth.
He spoke about this during an interview on Fox News and said it’s a matter of balance. While removing fluoride may slightly increase tooth decay, he pointed out that in Europe where some places don’t use fluoride in their water they haven’t seen a noticeable rise in cavities. He believes that parents should decide for themselves since, in his words, the science on fluoride is already very clear.
It’s worth noting that fluoride isn’t completely banned in Europe. The American Dental Association says that some European countries add fluoride to their water, while others do not. The reasons behind these choices, and the outcomes, vary across countries. USA TODAY is still waiting to hear more from the ADA about this issue.
Kennedy made this comment after being asked what effect banning fluoride might have on children who don’t have access to dentists or proper dental care. He has long supported the idea of removing fluoride from water.
Back in April, while talking with former President Donald Trump, Kennedy even said that too much fluoride could make kids less intelligent. That comment caused a lot of controversy, especially since the study he used to support it had serious flaws.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services explained that Kennedy is trying to strike a balance between reducing exposure to unnecessary chemicals and still protecting children’s teeth.
The department is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts to review the current science and possibly make new recommendations about fluoride in the future.
Fluoride is a natural mineral found in water and many foods. It’s long been believed to help prevent cavities. During the day, the enamel on our teeth the hard outer layer—gets broken down by sugar, plaque, and bacteria.
This process is called demineralization. But the body can fix this damage through remineralization, where minerals like fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are added back to the teeth through food and water. If teeth lose too many minerals and don’t get enough back, they begin to decay.
The first U.S. city to add fluoride to its water was Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1945. Today, the recommended amount is 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, which is enough to protect teeth but not cause harm. In fact, experts say a person would have to drink an extreme amount of water to suffer from fluoride poisoning far more than any normal amount someone would consume in a day.
Recently, Utah and Florida passed laws banning fluoride in public drinking water—Utah in March and Florida in May. Kennedy has praised both states and supports other states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana that are considering similar bans.
After Utah’s ban, the American Dental Association spoke out. They said that removing fluoride can directly harm patients, especially vulnerable children and adults. Their president, Dr. Brett Kessler, called it a tragedy when government decisions end up hurting people. The ADA believes banning fluoride doesn’t save money or lives, but instead leads to worse health and higher costs.
The ADA also referred to a 2024 study from the University of Queensland, which found no difference in the intelligence levels of children who drank fluoridated water and those who didn’t. This challenges the claim that fluoride affects brain development.
This conversation continues to spark debate as more states consider similar laws and health officials look at the latest scientific evidence to guide their decisions.
