Utah has officially become the first state to outlaw the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, despite strong opposition from dental professionals and major health organizations.
Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, signed the controversial legislation late Thursday, preventing local governments from making independent decisions about fluoridating their water supplies.
Fluoride, widely recognized for its role in strengthening teeth and preventing cavities, has been endorsed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a key component of public health. However, proponents of the ban argued that fluoridation is an unnecessary expense. Governor Cox, who grew up in an area without fluoridated water and raised his own children in a similar environment, likened the practice to government-imposed “medication.”
The decision follows the recent appointment of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has voiced skepticism regarding water fluoridation.
Currently, nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population—over 200 million people—receive fluoridated drinking water, a practice long considered one of the most significant public health advancements of the past century. Nevertheless, some cities have chosen to remove fluoride from their water supplies, and other municipalities are debating whether to follow suit.
A recent ruling by a federal judge ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate fluoride levels due to concerns that excessive amounts could negatively impact children’s cognitive development. However, the American Dental Association (ADA) reassures the public that fluoride concentrations in drinking water remain well below harmful levels.
Critics of Utah’s ban argue that it will disproportionately affect lower-income residents, many of whom rely on fluoridated water as a primary means of dental protection. Without it, families who cannot afford regular dental care or fluoride supplements may be at higher risk for dental issues.
Republican Representative Stephanie Gricius, who sponsored the legislation, acknowledged fluoride’s dental benefits but emphasized the importance of “individual choice” when it comes to public water consumption.
