Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Utah becomes first US state to ban fluoride in public drinking water

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 7 May 2025 09:44
5 Min Read

Utah bans fluoride in public water, sparking backlash from dentists who warn of rising child tooth decay and limited access to preventive dental care.

Listen
  • x
  • Dentist James Bekker with dissected human teeth on 30 April 2025, at his office in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Hannah Schoenbaum/AP)
    Dentist James Bekker with dissected human teeth on 30 April 2025, at his office in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Hannah Schoenbaum/AP)

Utah is set to become the first state in the US to ban fluoride in public drinking water, a move that has sparked concern among dentists and public health officials who warn it will lead to a surge in tooth decay, especially among vulnerable children and low-income families.

Governor Spencer Cox signed the measure into law despite widespread opposition from dental professionals and national health organizations. The law takes effect Wednesday and will impact an estimated 1.6 million people in Salt Lake City and northern Utah who currently receive fluoridated water.

Last week, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, with Ohio and South Carolina legislatures considering similar measures.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Stephanie Gricius, ends the practice of fluoridating public water supplies. While Gricius acknowledged fluoride's benefits, she argued that residents should not be given it without informed consent. Governor Cox echoed this sentiment, claiming there is no measurable difference in health outcomes between communities with and without fluoride, a claim Utah dentists strongly dispute.

“Any dentist can look in someone’s mouth in Utah and tell exactly where they grew up. Did you grow up in a fluoridated area or a non-fluoridated area? We can tell by the level of decay,” said Dr. James Bekker, a pediatric dentist at the University of Utah.

Dentists fear surge in child tooth decay and unmet dental needs

Providers at Salt Lake Donated Dental Services, a clinic offering free or low-cost dental care, say they are already overwhelmed and expect their waitlist for children’s procedures to grow significantly.

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

“We’re scheduling into August and September for some two-, three-, four-year-olds that are in so much pain that they can’t eat properly,” said Sasha Harvey, the clinic’s executive director. “It’s heartbreaking, and it’s going to get worse.”

Many patients were unaware that their water contained fluoride or that the ban was imminent. “I did not know about a ban,” said Noe Figueroa, a patient at the clinic. “Well, that’s not good. I don’t think that’s good at all.”

Most patients at the clinic only seek help when pain becomes unbearable, and many cannot afford fluoride supplements or routine dental visits. Harvey noted that the law places the burden of oral health on individuals, even as systemic barriers to care persist.

Fluoride’s role in public health and why it matters

Fluoridation has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Supplementing low natural fluoride levels in water to reach the recommended 0.7 mg/L strengthens teeth and reduces cavities, especially for children whose teeth are still developing. For low-income families, fluoridated water may be their only form of preventive dental care.

Bekker emphasized that fluoride toothpaste alone is not enough. “When a person regularly ingests fluoridated water, their saliva bathes the teeth in fluoride throughout the day and makes them stronger,” he said.

The ban has received support from US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who applauded Utah’s decision and said he plans to direct the CDC to end its recommendation for nationwide fluoridation. Florida is considering a similar measure, and legislatures in Ohio and South Carolina are reviewing fluoride bans as well.

Some proponents cited studies linking high fluoride exposure to health risks and lowered IQ in children. However, the National Institutes of Health has stated that it is “virtually impossible” to receive a toxic dose of fluoride at levels used in public water systems.

Kennedy’s support signals a broader political push against public fluoridation, despite longstanding scientific consensus on its safety and efficacy. If other states follow Utah’s lead, the country could see a rollback of a practice long regarded as central to dental health equity.

With fluoride tablets requiring a prescription, and few over-the-counter options currently available, many Utah families may struggle to replace the protection once provided by public water. Bekker and other providers are working to expand access to fluoride supplements, but regulatory changes may take months or years.

As the law takes effect, healthcare providers brace for the consequences and warn that the real cost will be borne by those least able to afford it.

  • United States
  • utah
  • National Institute of Health
  • Child tooth decay
  • US
  • Fluoride
  • Spencer Cox
  • Drinking water

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS