Utah Leads the Way with Landmark Ban on Fluoride in Public Water Systems

In a significant move, Utah has become the first state in the United States to ban the addition of fluoride to its public drinking water systems, as concerns grow over this decades-long practice. The ban aligns with the Make America Healthy Again movement, which has been gaining traction across the country.

On Thursday, Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed legislation that prohibits cities and communities from deciding whether to add fluoride to their drinking water. This bill, which passed the legislature last month, is set to take effect on May 7.

The Growing Debate Surrounding Fluoridation

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes that fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost through normal wear and tear. However, critics argue that while fluoride may benefit dental health when applied topically, its ingestion poses significant risks.

Critics contend that the type of fluoride used in public water systems is not the naturally occurring variant but rather a byproduct from the phosphate fertilizer industry, where it is captured during processing to mitigate environmental pollution. Concerns about neurotoxic effects have led many to scrutinize the safety of fluoride ingestion.

Arguments For and Against the Ban

Proponents of the ban, including several Utah lawmakers, argue that the costs associated with fluoridating water systems outweigh the potential health benefits. Governor Cox, who was raised in a community that did not fluoridate its water, recently expressed his belief that individuals should not be subjected to involuntary medication by the government.

Representative Stephanie Gricius, a Republican and the bill’s sponsor, stated that she had been working on the legislation since early last year. She emphasized the importance of informed consent in healthcare, declaring, “Community water fluoridation and informed consent cannot coexist. I am a firm believer in individual choice regarding what goes into our bodies.”

According to Gricius, only two of Utah’s twenty-nine counties currently practice community water fluoridation. Research indicates that there is no substantial difference in dental decay among children in counties that do fluoridate their water compared to those that do not. She noted that the county with the lowest level of dental decay does not add fluoride.