Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that if President-elect Donald Trump appointed him to a health leadership position, the first thing he would work on would be removing fluoride from water.
Fluoride was first introduced to U.S. water in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Scientists saw a direct impact of positive tooth health for those who drink water with fluoride, aiding in preventing tooth decay. Since then, 75% of Americans have access to fluoridated tap water, according to the Centers for Disease Control. However, Kennedy, who is considered to be on Trump’s short list of candidates for head of the Department of Health and Human Services, claims that fluoride in water causes other medical and other health issues.
“Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid diseases,” said Kennedy in an X post. When asked about this potential change in an NBC interview Trump said, “Well, I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but it sounds OK to me.” So, what are the health benefits of fluoride in water, and what would removing it mean? The CDC encourages the use of fluoride in water to prevent cavities.
“Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities,” says the CDC. The CDC does not mandate that fluoride be added to all state water supplies. Rather, local officials and communities vote for that.
