Fluoride & Cavities: US Water Study
- public drinking water could lead to 25.4 million additional cavities in children over five years, according to a new study published in JAMA health Forum.
- The study estimates a 7.5% increase in cavities, adding $9.8 billion in costs adn the loss of 2.9 million quality-adjusted life years.
- Lisa Simon, assistant professor at Brigham and Women’s hospital and harvard Medical School, emphasized fluoride's effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, calling it "one of the great public health...
Removing fluoride from U.S. public drinking water could mean a staggering 25.4 million more cavities in children, a new study in JAMA Health Forum warns. This would dramatically increase cavity prevalence by 7.5%,resulting in $9.8 billion in added costs. The research underscores the critical role of fluoride in cavity prevention, particularly for children reliant on public health insurance. Robert F.Kennedy Jr. and others have advocated against water fluoridation, but the study highlights potential consequences. The research,using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, emphasizes the need for optimal fluoride levels to benefit children’s dental health. News Directory 3 keeps you informed on critical health findings.Discover what’s next in the ongoing debate and the CDC’s updated guidance.
Study: Fluoride Removal Could Cause Millions of Cavities in Children
Updated May 30, 2025
Removing fluoride from U.S. public drinking water could lead to 25.4 million additional cavities in children over five years, according to a new study published in JAMA health Forum. This policy, advocated by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., would disproportionately affect children at high risk for tooth decay.
The study estimates a 7.5% increase in cavities, adding $9.8 billion in costs adn the loss of 2.9 million quality-adjusted life years. Children on public health insurance or without insurance would bear the brunt of this increase.
Dr. Lisa Simon, assistant professor at Brigham and Women’s hospital and harvard Medical School, emphasized fluoride’s effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, calling it “one of the great public health success stories of the 20th century.”
The research comes as Kennedy has made ending water fluoridation a key policy point. A recent report led by Kennedy,though,faced criticism for invented citations and mischaracterizing research.
Simon and co-author Sung Choi, Harvard assistant professor of oral health and epidemiology, used data from the U.S.National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and a statistical model to project the cost and prevalence of tooth decay in children aged 0-19 over five and 10 years. The data spanned 2013-2016,with analysis conducted between November and February.
Kennedy has argued against water fluoridation, citing potential negative impacts on IQ at very high fluoride levels. He stated that “the evidence against fluoride is overwhelming” at a recent event in Utah.
While high fluoride levels can have neurotoxic effects, research indicates these harms occur at levels exceeding 1.5 parts per million, more than double the CDC’s recommended level of 0.7 parts per million. The study highlights the importance of maintaining optimal fluoride levels for dental health and cavity prevention.
“We know fluoride is remarkably effective at preventing tooth decay – it’s one of the great public health success stories of the 20th century,” said Dr. Lisa Simon.
“We’re talking about quite low, very safe, very regulated levels of water fluoridation,” said Simon, adding that documented neurotoxic effects are at rates “10-15 times what people are exposed to in public water fluoridation.”
What’s next
The CDC is currently reviewing its guidance on fluoride. Further research will likely focus on optimizing fluoride levels to maximize benefits while minimizing potential risks, ensuring effective cavity prevention strategies for children.