Utah moves to ban fluoride in public water

Utah is on the verge of becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban fluoride in public water statewide, potentially overriding local decisions on the addition of this mineral to drinking water.

The bill is currently awaiting the signature of Governor Spencer Cox, with no clear indication yet on whether he will approve it, as reported by The Associated Press.

If the bill is signed into law, Utah would make history as the first state to prohibit fluoride in public water systems. This move has garnered support from some lawmakers but has raised concerns among public health experts and dental professionals.

Proponents of the bill, such as State Rep. Stephanie Gricius and State Sen. Kirk Cullimore, both Republicans, argue that the cost of adding fluoride is too high.

“I don’t deny that there can be benefits from fluoride, which is why the bill also includes a deregulation of the prescription,” Gricius stated in a text message to The Associated Press, referring to fluoride pills. “This legislation is not anti-fluoride but rather pro-informed consent and individual choice.”

However, dental and public health experts caution that banning fluoride could lead to an increase in cavities, especially in low-income communities.

Utah’s decision comes at a time when newly appointed federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed doubts about water fluoridation, a practice widely recognized as one of the greatest public health achievements of the past century.

“Fluoridation is the most cost-effective method for preventing tooth decay on a large scale,” stated Lorna Koci, chair of the Utah Oral Health Coalition.

“I believe that the anti-fluoride individuals are seizing the opportunity presented by Kennedy’s beliefs to push for an end to water fluoridation,” she added.

As of 2022, Utah ranked 44th in the nation for the percentage of residents receiving fluoridated water, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among the 484 Utah water systems that reported data to the CDC, only 66 included fluoride in their water. Salt Lake City, the state capital and largest metropolitan area, was among those that added fluoride.

In 2023, voters in Brigham City rejected a proposal to remove fluoride from their water supply by a significant margin.

Val Radmall, executive director of the Utah Dental Association, disclosed that he and other dental professionals met with Gricius in an attempt to have her reconsider the bill.

Having worked in a non-fluoridated community for thirty years, Radmall noted the visible impact of the absence of fluoride.

“When a patient with no cavities walked in, I would ask, ‘Where did you grow up?’ because everyone in this area has numerous cavities,” Radmall concluded.

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