HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It makes no sense to have fluoride in our water. The evidence against fluoride is overwhelming.
And I’m very, very proud of this state for being the first state to ban it. And I hope many more will come.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
That was the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., talking about Utah, which recently became the first state in the nation to ban fluoride in public drinking water, a practice known as fluoridation.
Now, typically on Tuesdays, we take your questions, but this week we’re going to address a topic that’s been getting a lot of questions, and that includes from our podcast producer, Sofía Sánchez.
Sofía Sánchez, producer
Hey Sanjay, yes I’ve definitely been wondering about this topic myself, I’ve even been asked a few questions from my family about what exactly the concern is over fluoride. So what exactly is the concern over fluorides?
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Let’s start with the, basics first of all. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that you can find in plants, soil, certain foods, and obviously water.
It is great for strengthening our teeth and I’m going to come back to that point, but remember, fluoride can help strengthen your teeth, and that’s why it’s been added to toothpaste and tap water for around eight decades now.
If you do the math, about 70% of Americans on community water systems, that’s about 209 million people, have fluoridated drinking water in the United States, and the CDC credits fluoridate water for a 25% reduction in cavities in children. But here’s the issue …
