­Federal Regulation of Fluoride in Drinking Water

Overview

Despite the recognized health benefits and minimal risk of fluoridation, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has announced that “the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.” Removing drinking water fluoridation risks diminishing oral health overall and exacerbating existing oral health disparities. Children from low-income households are much more likely to have untreated cavities than children from higher income households. This Fact Sheet discusses the federal government’s power to regulate fluoride in drinking water and the role of state and local government in this space.