Study: Removing Fluoride from Water Increases Tooth Decay and Dental Costs

Study Findings on Fluoride Removal

• 💡 A recent study simulated the impact of removing fluoride from U.S. public water systems, projecting a 7.5 percentage point increase in tooth decay among American children.
• 🎯 This increase is equivalent to over 25 million newly decayed teeth within a 5-year span.
• 💰 The removal of fluoride is estimated to cost approximately $9.8 billion over five years, impacting families, federal funders, and insurers.
• ⚠️ Beyond financial costs, the study highlights the suffering and pain associated with increased tooth decay.

Fluoride's Benefits and Vulnerable Populations

• 🦷 Fluoride benefits everyone, but it is particularly crucial for children's developing teeth, making them stronger.
• 💧 A significant advantage of water fluoridation is its universal accessibility directly from the tap.
• 🚀 Individuals who struggle to access routine preventive dental care stand to benefit the most from community water fluoridation.

Addressing Health Concerns

• 🔬 For approximately 80 years, fluoride has been effective in preventing tooth decay without measurable negative health effects.
• 📚 The study's projections are based on the best available evidence, including monographs from the National Toxicology Program and recommendations from the CDC.
• ⚠️ The study did not model negative health outcomes, as current evidence from authoritative bodies like the CDC does not find health harms at the safe levels used in community water fluoridation.