If states ban fluoride, more kids will get cavities and Medicaid costs could soar, study finds
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- A new analysis by CareQuest Institute predicts that banning fluoride in drinking water in five states could lead to over 132,000 additional children needing dental treatment within three years, with Medicaid costs potentially exceeding $40 million.
- Florida has already banned community water fluoridation, and four other states—Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma—are considering similar legislation, which experts warn could significantly increase childhood tooth decay.
- The CDC considers water fluoridation one of the greatest public health achievements, reducing tooth decay by 25%, but fluoride has faced growing opposition, with at least 21 states introducing bills to ban it.
- Dental experts emphasize fluoride’s role in strengthening tooth enamel and preventing decay, especially in young children,
