reprinted from ADA Morning Huddle:
Currently, more than 72% of the U.S. population has access to fluoridated drinking water, according to a video report from CBS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called this effort “one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century.”
Proponents of fluoride have argued that including it in drinking water may improve oral health, particularly for children with developmental conditions.
Mary Beth Giacona, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, revealed that individuals residing in areas without fluoridated drinking water often present with higher rates of cavities compared with areas that do supply fluoridated drinking water to its residents. She emphasized that fluoridating water has been shown to prevent up to 40% of tooth decay.
However, RFK Jr. has falsely claimed that fluoride is linked to arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease, according to the CBS report. As a result, dentists are once again debating the health benefits of fluoridated drinking water.
Read more: CBS
