Ending community water fluoridation could be detrimental to the oral health of adults and children in the U.S., according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, said in November that Mr. Trump would aim to remove fluoride from public water sources once he is in office.
Barry Lyon, DDS, a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for Dental Care Alliance, spoke with Becker's about the lasting impact this move could have on patients.
Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Dr. Barry Lyon: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services, has no medical background or training other than visits to his doctor. Yet, he will be attempting to influence local communities to remove fluoride from their public water supplies. Mr. Kennedy has stated "fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” despite definitive proof that those claims are not valid. According to the CDC and the U.S. Public Health Service, 0.7 milligrams per liter in public water systems promotes oral health benefits. Some studies condemning fluoride in drinking water were based on higher levels found outside the U.S. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated "there is no scientifically valid evidence" to support claims that fluoride causes cancer, kidney disease or other disorders.
How will removing fluoride from drinking water impact public health? A 2018 study titled "Consequences of Community Water Fluoridation Cessation for Medicaid-eligible children and Adolescents in Juneau, Alaska" compared the caries experience in children in 2003, versus 2012 after fluoride was removed. The study concluded that the odds of a child or adolescent undergoing a dental caries procedure in 2003 was 25.2% less than that of a child or adolescent in 2012.
A 2022 study conducted in Israel that analyzed six years of data from dental clinics revealed children ages 3 to 12 required nearly double the number of restorative treatments compared to before fluoridation ended. We know that oral disease affects children in many ways — pain; sleep and appetite issues; low self-esteem, confidence and social skills; and reduced academic performance. Research also shows that 164 million work hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses, and children miss 51 million school hours each year due to oral health. Expect these numbers to increase when fluoride is removed from community drinking water supplies.
Imagine how removing fluoride will cost this country even more and further impact America’s children, whose dental problems may follow them through life.