The dental industry may see increased demand for hygiene products and dentist visits if the Trump administration follows through on a proposed move to end water fluoridation, CNBC reported Nov. 18.
Eight notes:
1. Robert Kennedy Jr., recently named secretary of Health and Human Services, said in a post on X before the election that President-elect Donald Trump would remove fluoride from public water sources if elected.
2. Mr. Kennedy claimed fluoride is associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease. However, he did not cite evidence or studies to support these claims.
3. CNBC reported that Dentsply Sirona, Envista and Henry Schein experienced share growth on Nov. 18, with Henry Schein poised for its best trading day since July.
4. Financial firm Gordon Haskett told CNBC that ending water fluoridation could boost sales for other suppliers of dental hygiene products and increase dental visits as consumers seek to improve their oral health.
5. Don Bilson, Gordon Haskett's head of event-driven research, noted that any regulatory changes could take years to take effect.
6. The effects of water fluoridation have faced heightened scrutiny this year despite long-standing support from several national healthcare organizations.
7. In August, the National Toxicology Program released a report stating that drinking water with more than double the recommended limit of fluoride was associated with lower IQ levels in children. Following the report's release, several healthcare organizations spoke out in support of water fluoridation, citing evidence that the U.S. Public Health Service's current recommended level of 0.7 milligrams/liter of fluoride concentration in drinking water is safe and effective at reducing the risk of tooth decay.
8. A federal judge ruled in September that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must address the impact fluoride has on drinking water. Several dental organizations, including the American Dental Association, reiterated their support for current fluoride recommendations after the ruling.