Utah first state to ban fluoride from public water supply

Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law on Thursday prohibiting the addition of fluoride to the public water supplies. The law will formally go into effect on May 7, making Utah the first state in the nation to officially ban the government from adding the mineral to water systems. Fluoride is a natural mineral that can stop or reduce tooth decay caused by bacteria. Fluoride exposure strengthens teeth by restoring minerals lost through time and use. However, a study last year reported a statistical link between high fluoride exposure and lower IQs in children.

How is the dental association responding? The American Dental Association described Cox’s passage of the law as a wanton disregard for constituents' oral health. Community fluoridation has been proven safe after decades of use and is now recognized as one of the most trusted preventive medicine strategies, the association added.

How did we get here? The United States began adding fluoride to public water around 1945 to help combat tooth decay among Americans regardless of their access to regular dental care. Data from 2012 showed that about 75% of Americans were supplied with fluoridated water through public water systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Why did state lawmakers want to remove it from the water? Advocates for removing fluoride argued that, regardless of the health benefits, individuals should choose whether or not to ingest the mineral. Utah State Rep. Stephanie Gricius sponsored the bill and emphasized the importance of residents having the ability to choose what they ingest. The type of fluoride used in water is federally controlled as a prescription drug because it’s a different form than the naturally occurring mineral, Gricius told WORLD. Her position is that community fluoridation doesn’t allow for measurable dosing or informed consent while doling out a federally controlled drug. Gricius also said that the bill will allow pharmacists to individually prescribe fluoride supplements.

A 2024 study released by the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program reported a link between high fluoride exposures and lower IQ in children. The study reported the link with moderate confidence but concluded that more research was still needed.

WORLD reached out to Cox for comment on his motivation for signing the bill and did not receive an immediate response.