Utah set to ban community water fluoridation

ADA assists with Grassroots Alert opposing anti-fluoride bill

Utah is poised to become the first state to place a complete ban on community water fluoridation due to a proposed bill that would not allow municipalities to decide for themselves whether to include fluoride.  

The ADA sent a letter Feb. 25 urging Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to veto House Bill 81, saying the bill “would adopt public policy that is in complete opposition to the mission of the ADA.” The letter goes on to provide evidence of cost and disease increases associated with ending community water fluoridation.   

“With the weight of the evidence and nearly universal support of community water fluoridation in all corners of the health care sector, we urge your veto of H.B. 81,” reads the letter. 

Specifically, House Bill 81  would “define terms, prohibit adding fluoride to public water systems, allow a pharmacist to prescribe fluoride, and direct the [Utah] Division of Professional Licensing to establish guidelines for prescribing fluoride.” 

The bill passed the House and Senate and now heads to Gov. Cox for final approval. In addition to sending its own letter, the ADA assisted the Utah Dental Association in deploying a Grassroots Alert asking dentists to urge Gov. Cox to veto the bill, stating it “would take away the most effective, efficient and equitable way for dental disease prevention and would be the first state in the country to ban fluoridation practices.” 

“House Bill 81 would adopt public policy that is in complete opposition to effectively decreasing dental decay and strengthening teeth enamel. Gov. Cox can still oppose this legislation with your support,” reads the alert. “Please take action and email Gov. Cox today about his need to protect his constituents’ health and oppose the bill today.” 

Scott Tomar, D.M.D., Dr.P.H., associate dean of the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry, said the bill would hurt both residents’ health and wallets.  

“As we have recently seen in other communities, stopping fluoridation leads to more cavities and higher costs for dental care,” Dr. Tomar said. “On average, every dollar invested in fluoridation saves about $20 in treatment costs.  If Utah takes this action, it will not save money, but will put the higher costs of treatment onto the backs of Utah’s citizens.” 

Continuous warnings that [ending fluoridation] would cause declines in oral health were ignored, according to Val Radmall, D.D.S., executive director of the Utah Dental Association. Dr. Radmall said the bill was opposed by all groups representing medicine, dentistry, hospital groups and public health groups, but was still met with resistance.  

“The fact [that] removing community water fluoridation would most seriously affect the children and the underserved, [was] mostly ignored. The discussions of increased costs to the state from increased dental treatments for those on Medicaid were ignored," she said. "The inevitable eventual emergency department visit increases were ignored. The increase cost to each household from the inevitable increased dental care needed and the pharmacy costs for those still seeking some fluoridation, were basically ignored. The fact that community water fluoridation was the most cost effective and most overall effective way to distribute fluoride to those in the community, was basically ignored.” 

Other states are also considering banning fluoride through legislation. Montana and Florida are next to consider anti-fluoride bills in their respective legislative sessions. However, legislative committees in New Hampshire, North Dakota and Arkansas have rejected bills that would ban fluoridation in the last few weeks. 

The ADA continues to support community water fluoridation as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named it one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.  

For more information, visit ADA.org/Fluoride.