Whopper of the week: Kennedy's Lies About Fluoride Undermine Public Health

THIS WEEK'S WHOPPER: 

Secretary Kennedy Undermines Public Health When He lies about fluoride

IN SUMMARY:

Fluoridation of water is one of the top 10 achievements in public health history, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because of the numerous health benefits fluoridation provides in a cost-effective way. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has a history of trying to undermine public health by spreading conspiracy theories about fluoride. In November 2024 he said “Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease." But 70 seventy years of research, thousands of studies, and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that water fluoridation is effective in preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults,” according to the American Dental Association.

WHY IS THIS A WHOPPER?

Kennedy likes to cite a flawed study that claims fluoride is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and IQ loss, but those data were from countries where fluoride levels were more than double that found in the US. The laundry list of harms that Kennedy imagines fluoride can cause -- cancer, arthritis, bone fractures, ADHD and thyroid disease -- are not supported by any data.  

Fluoridation in the United States has proven to be safe and effective. Most surface and ground water contains low levels of fluoride. The US Public Health Service recommends an optimal fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter to maximize benefits and minimize harms. Fluoride reduces the ability of plaque bacteria to produce acid that attacks tooth enamel, stopping decay and remineralizing the teeth. Fluoride supplemented in toothpaste and tablets provides added benefits but is more expensive and not available to all.  

Oral health is essential to keeping Americans healthy. Numerous studies have shown fluoride reduces cavities in children by over 25%. Fluoride is also important for adults, because close to 46% of adults in the US suffer from some form of gum disease which can also be reduced by fluoride usage. Many chronic diseases, which Secretary Kennedy purports to care about, are associated with poor oral health. There are strong links between gum health and heart disease and type 2 diabetes; early data also shows an association with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Studies show that obesity increases the risk of tooth loss but also that people who lose teeth lose the ability to eat healthy foods and are at higher risk of obesity. Despite a reputation for being “luxury bones,” oral health very much impacts overall health and quality of life.

Fluoridation has been used in US water systems for over 70 years. The public overwhelmingly supports community water fluoridation and believes the government should do what it can to protect and improve oral health, according to a 2025 opinion survey. Approximately 70% of people in the US use fluoridated water systems. It is a very cost-effective intervention: for every dollar spent on water fluoridation, over $30 of dental care is averted. Communities that have stopped fluoridating water -- like Juneau, AK, Buffalo, NY, and Windsor, ON -- have seen an increase in the number and severity of dental care problems.

HOW MIGHT THIS IMPACT YOU?

Secretary Kennedy wants the CDC to change its fluoridation recommendations, encourage states to ban municipal fluoridation, and get the FDA to phase out fluoride supplements. He has already eliminated the CDC’s Division of Oral Health, which does research and also assists with the technical aspects of fluoridation. This year Utah and Florida became the first states to ban communities from adding fluoride to public drinking water. Millions of people may soon lose access to inexpensive fluoridated municipal water and may no longer have the option of supplementing their fluoride intake. A recent model estimated that the “elimination of fluoride would be associated with an increase in tooth decay of 7.5 percentage points and cost approximately $9.8 billion over 5 years.” 

Communities that opt out of fluoridation will see a rise in tooth decay among children and adults, earlier loss of teeth, and are likely to experience more chronic disease. The impacts of poor dental health on quality of life should not be underestimated. Poor dentition is stigmatizing. Dental pain can affect sleep, nutrition, academic performance, school and work attendance, job prospects and work productivity. These impacts will be greatest for those of lower socioeconomic backgrounds, especially those in rural areas where there is a shortage of dentists. Removing fluoride from drinking water and banning fluoride supplements will make Americans less healthy. 

Contributors to this post are: Miriam Rabkin, MD, MPH; Katrina Co, DMD; Aurora Horstkamp, MD; and Benedicte Callan, PhD.