Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted on Thursday there are some probably huge holes in his resolution to cease recommending water fluoridation nationwide ― as in cavities.
Throughout an interview on Fox Information, host Harris Faulkner requested the conspiracy theory-peddling well being and human providers secretary to handle considerations from America’s dental group about lower-income kids who may not be getting preventative dental care.
Kennedy admitted there can be trade-offs for eliminating fluoride in water.
“It’s a steadiness,” he stated. “You’re gonna see most likely barely extra cavities. Though in Europe, the place they banned fluoride, they didn’t see an uptick in cavities. The difficulty is, mother and father must resolve, as a result of science could be very clear on fluoride.”
A few years of analysis present that water fluoridation can considerably cut back cavities in each kids and adults, and the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has hailed it as one of many nation’s 10 best well being achievements of the twentieth century.
Kennedy, nevertheless, has railed in opposition to it. He stated in April that relating to fluoride, “the extra you get, the stupider you might be,” referencing a 2025 journal article that steered fluoride may decrease IQs in kids.
The authors of that examine have stated themselves that their findings shouldn’t be used to guage the use of fluoride in water within the U.S., for a wide range of causes.
Kennedy was additionally improper when he steered that Europe as a complete had banned fluoride in water. Whereas it’s true that many European nations don’t add it to their water, the area has a patchwork of practices, as outlined by a 2018 report. Some elements of the U.Okay. and Eire fluoridate their faucet water, whereas Greece provides it to bottled water. And in some areas, fluoride happens naturally within the water provide.
Right here’s a clip of the change:
As a result of the science could be very clear that water fluoridation can stop cavities, and since oral hygiene impacts general well being, many individuals mocked Kennedy for minimizing the potential results of his anti-fluoride campaign, which is anticipated to hurt low-income kids probably the most.
One particular person snarkily noticed an upside to RFK Jr.’s anti-fluoride push.
