Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, despite opposition from dentists and national health organizations who warn that this decision could lead to health issues and disproportionately impact low-income communities.
Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill on Thursday preventing cities and towns from deciding whether to add fluoride to their water supply.
Fluoride is known for strengthening teeth and reducing cavities, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Proponents of the ban argued that fluoridating water was too costly. Gov. Cox, who grew up in a community without fluoridated water, compared the practice to being “medicated” by the government.
The ban will take effect on May 7, just weeks after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has questioned the efficacy of water fluoridation, took office.
The American Dental Association strongly condemned the move, calling it a “wanton disregard” for public health. They stressed that cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease.
Other states, including Ohio, South Carolina, and Florida, have proposed restricting local governments from adding fluoride to water, though some bills in New Hampshire, Tennessee, and North Dakota were rejected.
Fluoridation is considered the most cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay, with nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population receiving fluoridated water. However, some cities have removed fluoride, and others are considering doing so.
A federal judge recently ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate fluoride in drinking water, citing concerns over its potential impact on children’s intellectual development.
Opponents of the ban argue it will harm low-income residents who may rely on public water fluoridation as their only affordable source of preventive dental care. They note that many low-income families can’t afford regular dental visits or supplements. Rep. Stephanie Gricius, who sponsored the legislation, acknowledged the benefits of fluoride but emphasized the issue of individual choice. Of the 484 Utah water systems that reported data in 2024, only 66 included fluoride, and Utah ranked 44th in the nation for residents receiving fluoridated water.
