Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he wants to curb water fluoridation nationwide. Here’s what the science shows about the benefits and the risks.. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s skepticism about fluoride has become a focal point in the debate about whether he’s suitable to run the nation’s health department.. His pledge that the Trump administration would “advise all U.S. systems to remove fluoride from public water” has sparked outcry among dentists and some public health experts who say that fluoridated water is safe and essential for protecting oral health in children.. But other medical experts have raised concerns about the potential negative health effects of high levels of fluoride, particularly for fetuses and young children.. This isn’t the first time concerns about fluoride have cropped up: Opposition to fluoride dates back to the 1940s and ’50s. At that time, some people felt that more studies were needed to establish the safety of water fluoridation. In addition, unfounded conspiracy theories — like that fluoridation was a Communist plot to poison Americans — began to spread. Skepticism about fluoride became so associated with fringe worldviews that it became a kind of punchline.. But the research shows a more nuanced picture of fluoride’s benefits and risks. Here’s what to know.. How important is fluoride for our health?. The greatest benefit of fluoride is that it improves children’s oral health. The mineral prevents cavities by making teeth stronger and may also reduce the amount of acid that bacteria on the teeth produce, which can damage enamel and make them more susceptible to cavities.. We are having trouble retrieving the article content.. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.. Thank you for your patience while we verify access.. Already a subscriber? Log in.. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
