Utah recently became the first state to ban fluoride. This statewide legislation bans municipalities from adding fluoride to public drinking water. Many constituents see the action as a win for freedom of choice. To the contrary, this legislation bars local governments from independent choice regarding community water. It limits the reach of preventive dental care.
Supporters of Utah’s decision argue that the benefits of fluoridation in modern contexts are marginal due to improved dental care and the broad use of fluoride toothpaste. Their concerns include the risk of dental fluorosis — or discoloration — and a small number of inconclusive, low-confidence studies asserting potential links between high fluoride exposure and neurodevelopmental effects. Opponents of Utah’s ban affirm that water fluoridation is a well-supported public health measure backed by decades of scientific research, effectively reducing cavities by 25% across populations with particularly strong benefits for children and communities facing significant barriers in healthcare access.
If you’re feeling confused or concerned by the current changes, you’re not alone. According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, the new law impacts around 1.6 million Utahns in Davis and Salt Lake counties and in Brigham City. Access to accurate, evidence-based information is vital to your health.
As a doctor of physical therapy with 20 years of management and clinical experience in rural and urban healthcare, I’m committed to advancing health equity. Here are some precautions I would recommend to protect yourself, your family and your community.
Maintain good daily dental hygiene.
Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and floss daily — ideally before bedtime. Minimize snacks high in sugar or starch. Avoid tobacco and nicotine.
For your children, the American Academy of Pediatrics promotes using a smear or grain-of-rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day after the first tooth appears until 3 years of age. A pea-sized amount is recommended once your child turns 3. Flossing should begin as soon as two teeth begin to touch inside your child’s mouth. Per consensus among dentists, children should be actively supervised (to prevent toothpaste ingestion and promote adequate brushing) until ages 8 through 10.
Schedule regular dental checkups.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services urges you to get regular six-month dental checkups with a dentist or healthcare provider to ensure adequate oral health protection. Utahns who do not have a dentist can visit the DHHS Oral Health Program website for a list of low-cost dental clinics throughout the state.
Utilize prescriptions.
The new law allows for fluoride prescriptions by pharmacists, in addition to dentists and doctors. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the recommended dosage, and see the ADA’s resource on topical fluoride. Be proactive about maintaining fluoride supplementation for your children. Fluoride varnishes are recommended two to four times a year for children 6 months and older.
Fluoride supplements are also recommended for children aged 6 months to 16 years, especially those living in areas with low levels of naturally occurring groundwater fluoride. Adults with certain bone diseases or at high risk of tooth decay should speak to a dentist, doctor or pharmacist about fluoride supplements.
Check your water.
The DHHS recommends that Utahns call their public water system (local water district or city) for the most accurate information on the natural fluoride levels in their drinking water. To learn which public water system services your home, visit the Utah Department of Environmental Quality website and enter your address and ZIP code. To find a certified laboratory that can test for fluoride in your drinking water, visit the Department of Drinking Water’s Lab and Public Water Sampling Resource page.
Know your facts on fluoride.
Refer to information that is cross-referenced and fact-checked by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Advocate for your community.
Utah dentists strongly encourage you to submit comments to the FDA in support of digestible fluoride supplements. To advocate on the national level, consider joining the ADA Fluoride Ambassador program to help stem the current tide of disinformation.
Utah’s fluoride ban marks a pivotal moment in our nation’s public health history — one that risks reversing decades of progress in dental health equity. As individuals, it is important that we stay informed, prioritize preventive dental care for ourselves and our families and support one another as we navigate change. As a community, we need to raise our voices — to legislators, to the FDA and to our fellow citizens — in defense of equitable, cost-effective and proven health measures like water fluoridation.
Contact your local representatives, talk to your dentist or pharmacist about fluoride options and consider joining national efforts like the ADA Fluoride Ambassador program. The health of our children and communities depends on what we do next.
(Susan Nowell) Susan Nowell, DPT, OCS, is a doctor of physical therapy with 20 years of experience in rural and urban healthcare, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Susan Nowell, DPT, OCS, is a doctor of physical therapy with 20 years of experience in rural and urban healthcare, both in the U.S. and abroad. Committed to advancing health equity, she is actively pursuing a master’s degree in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah.
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