{"id":2277,"date":"2025-05-08T11:40:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/08\/utahs-ban-on-fluoride-in-public-water-is-a-simple-change-that-raises-complicated-new-health-risks-experts-say\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T11:40:39","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:40:39","slug":"utahs-ban-on-fluoride-in-public-water-is-a-simple-change-that-raises-complicated-new-health-risks-experts-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/08\/utahs-ban-on-fluoride-in-public-water-is-a-simple-change-that-raises-complicated-new-health-risks-experts-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Utah\u2019s ban on fluoride in public water is a simple change that raises complicated new health risks, experts say"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/action-bar\/instances\/cmad377im000r26oy1wf8902s@published\" data-label-id-prefix=\"action-bar-start-of-article\" class=\"action-bar\" data-dynamic-breakpoint-placement=\"{&quot;extraLarge&quot;:{&quot;placement&quot;:&quot;.layout-article-elevate__left&quot;}}\" data-expand-conditions=\"{&quot;follow&quot;:{&quot;extraLarge&quot;:{&quot;alwaysExpand&quot;:true}},&quot;shareOptions&quot;:{&quot;large&quot;:{&quot;maxNumOfActions&quot;:1},&quot;medium&quot;:{&quot;maxNumOfActions&quot;:1},&quot;extraLarge&quot;:{&quot;withAction&quot;:&quot;follow&quot;,&quot;maxNumOfActions&quot;:2}}}\">\n<div class=\"action-bar__overlay\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet\">\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet--header\">\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet--header-title\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet--header-close\">                            <\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet--action\" data-title=\"follow\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/follow-topics-bar\/instances\/cmad377im000v26oyb2vfef9g@published\" data-unauth-redirect=\"\/account\/register\/follow\" data-embed-max-topics=\"\" class=\"follow-topics-bar follow-topics-bar_overlay follow-topics-bar--hide\">\n<div class=\"follow-topics-bar_overlay__inner\">\n<div class=\"follow-topics-bar_overlay__scroll-wrapper\">                  <button data-unselectable=\"true\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/chip\/instances\/cmad377im000w26oy3uakbb8t@published\" class=\"chip follow-topics-chip \" data-component-variation=\"follow-topics-chip\" data-component-name=\"chip\" data-zjs=\"click\" data-enable-interstitial=\"true\" data-override-success=\"\" data-label=\"Water availability\" data-id=\"3d0489bc-7fe6-43d0-b542-0e697788eccc\" data-reset-on-log-out=\"true\">    <span class=\"chip__label\">Water availability<\/span>    <span class=\"chip__icon\">        <span class=\"chip__icon--check\"><\/span>        <span class=\"chip__icon--add\"><\/span>    <\/span><\/button>        <\/div>\n<div class=\"follow-topics-bar_overlay__fade follow-topics-bar_overlay__fade--hide\"><\/div>\n<p>                      See all topics              <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet--action\" data-title=\"share options\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/social-share\/instances\/cmad377im000u26oy1fxm6ah8@published\" class=\"social-share_labelled-list\">\n<div class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share-links vossi-social-share_labelled-list\" data-type=\"share-links\">        <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=80401312489&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2025%2F05%2F07%2Fhealth%2Futah-fluoride-water-health&amp;display=popup\" data-type=\"facebook\" aria-label=\"share with facebook\" title=\"Share with Facebook\">                                <span class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share-links--label\">Facebook<\/span>        <\/button>        <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Check%20out%20this%20article%3A&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2025%2F05%2F07%2Fhealth%2Futah-fluoride-water-health\" data-type=\"x\" aria-label=\"share with x\" title=\"Share with X\">                                <span class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share-links--label\">Tweet<\/span>        <\/button>                                        <span class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share-links--label\">Email<\/span>                <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/05\/07\/health\/utah-fluoride-water-health\" data-type=\"copy\" aria-label=\"copy link to clipboard\" title=\"Copy link to clipboard\">                                <span class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share-links--label\">Link<\/span>        <\/button>        <\/p>\n<div class=\"social-share_labelled-list__copied\" data-type=\"message\">                        Link Copied!        <\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__open\" data-type=\"open\" aria-label=\"open social share\" title=\"Open social share\">            <\/button>    <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__close\" data-type=\"close\" aria-label=\"close social share\" title=\"Close social share\">            <\/button><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"action-bar__buttons\">            <button class=\"action-bar__button\" data-title=\"follow\">                                        Follow            <\/button>            <button class=\"action-bar__button\" data-title=\"share options\">                                <\/button>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad377im000t26oy4bho3czc@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Dentists in Utah can tell rather quickly whether their patients grew up in the Salt Lake City area or in a different part of the state.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p900023b6mykgggln2@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Salt Lake County, neighboring Davis County to the north and nearby Brigham City \u2013 home to about half of the state\u2019s population \u2013 have been adding fluoride to the public drinking water for decades with local voter approval while other parts of the state generally have not.    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/related-content\/instances\/cmad3vx9300043b6m85xvwexv@published\" data-component-name=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content-elevate related-content--card\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<header class=\"related-content__title related-content__title-text\" data-editable=\"content.title\">Related card<\/header>\n<section class=\"related-content__body\">\n<div class=\"related-content__image image__related-content\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cm9ijike400143b6okf1o5v9w@published\" class=\"image-elevate image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--eq-large&quot;: 660}\" data-original-ratio=\"0.666875\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/92884fae-2981-42ca-a207-d4eef2b8d594.jpg?q=h_1067,w_1600,x_0,y_0\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--show-credits&quot;: 525}\">           <\/div>\n<div class=\"image__metadata-container media__metadata-container\">\n<div class=\"image__metadata media__metadata\">\n<div class=\"image__caption attribution\">    <span data-editable=\"metaCaption\" class=\"inline-placeholder\"><\/span>  <\/div><figcaption class=\"image__credit\">(Adobe Stock)<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"related-content__headline\">        <span class=\"related-content__headline-text\" data-editable=\"content.headline\">Is fluoride in our drinking water safe?<\/span>      <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p900033b6mpfuwwqvl@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cIt\u2019s pretty obvious. If I have new patients come into my practice, I can guess probably eight or nine times out of 10 if they\u2019ve grown up in a fluoridated community,\u201d said Dr. Darren Chamberlain, a pediatric dentist who practices a bit farther south in the state. \u201cThe reason I know is because, generally, they don\u2019t have cavities.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p900043b6mrrj7rods@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            But that may soon change. Community fluoridation \u2013 considered one of the top public health success stories of the last century \u2013 has been banned in Utah, with a new law taking effect Wednesday. The change worries dentists and public health experts, who are concerned that it will lead to a rise in avoidable oral health issues, especially among young children from low-income families.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p900053b6mhymbbf5i@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Fluoride is a mineral that can be found naturally in some foods and groundwater. It can help prevent tooth decay by strengthening the protective outer layer of enamel that can be worn away by acids formed by bacteria, plaque and sugars in the mouth. Adding fluoride to public water systems started in the United States in 1945.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmadb1lda00003b6m797rgwcg@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The sponsor of the Utah legislation, Republican Rep. Stephanie Gricius, acknowledged fluoride has benefits, but said it was an issue of \u201cindividual choice\u201d to not have it in the water. Discussions about financial costs of community fluoridation were also raised during legislative hearings in the state, as well as recent studies that raise questions about whether high fluoride levels negatively affect brain development in children.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmadb1qhh00023b6m8fkulswc@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The Trump administration has also ramped up scrutiny of fluoride, and US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said that he plans to tell the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation for public drinking water in communities.    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/related-content\/instances\/cmad3x7yd00063b6m8t11acbs@published\" data-component-name=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content-elevate related-content--article\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<header class=\"related-content__title related-content__title-text\" data-editable=\"content.title\">Related article<\/header>\n<section class=\"related-content__body\">\n<div class=\"related-content__image image__related-content\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cma5o2hl6003926ow31wx93bl@published\" class=\"image-elevate image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"GettyImages-1356121474.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--eq-large&quot;: 660}\" data-original-ratio=\"0.662900683131897\" data-original-height=\"5046\" data-original-width=\"7612\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/gettyimages-1356121474.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--show-credits&quot;: 525}\">           <\/div>\n<div class=\"image__metadata-container media__metadata-container\">\n<div class=\"image__metadata media__metadata\">\n<div class=\"image__caption attribution\">    <span data-editable=\"metaCaption\" class=\"inline-placeholder\">Toothpaste containing fluoride has been widely available and commonly used in the US since the mid-1970s.<\/span>  <\/div><figcaption class=\"image__credit\">Issarawat Tattong\/Moment RF\/Getty Images\/File<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"related-content__headline\">        <span class=\"related-content__headline-text\" data-editable=\"content.headline\">Texas attorney general targets toothpaste companies amid increased scrutiny of fluoride<\/span>      <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p900073b6m8foituz7@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Utah is the first state to pass a law banning public water fluoridation, and Kennedy championed the move during his visit to the state last month.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p900083b6mx9rtpk79@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cI think it\u2019s a moral imperative that we all believe in freedom of choice in this country,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cIt is one of the bedrock principles of our democracy, and the government shouldn\u2019t be making decisions, intimate decisions about our own lives.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p900093b6mgfech5x2@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Other states are also considering the change or taking action; on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged to sign a bill passed by lawmakers to ban fluoride in municipal drinking water statewide.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000a3b6mykzqa6e7@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Public health advocates stress that the amount of fluoride added to public water systems is far below the amount that would pose any health risk and that there is stronger evidence that removing fluoride from public drinking systems causes harm.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000b3b6mhid0wxgo@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Experts say it may take a few years for the consequences of the change in Utah to become apparent. One study of Medicaid claims from a city in Alaska shows that five years after community fluoridation ended, there was an average of one additional procedure to treat tooth decay per child. And a city in Canada recently voted to add fluoride back into the drinking water after seeing that local second-graders had significantly higher rates of cavities than those in a neighboring city that fluoridated its water.    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader inline-placeholder subheader-elevate\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/cmad3jhee00013b6mlm4m351d@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"action-is-left-up-to-residents\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">        Action is left up to residents<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000c3b6m86avsqxn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Health officials and other concerned groups in Utah have been working to get the word out about the change and share information about alternative ways parents can get the protective benefits of fluoride for their children or adults can get it for themselves.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000d3b6ma1xfyf3u@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            On Friday, the Utah Department of Health &amp; Human Services released guidance encouraging residents to talk to their dentist, doctor or pharmacist about fluoride supplements.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000e3b6m002p6lc1@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cWhile community water fluoridation will no longer be available, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of developing cavities,\u201d Dr. Stacey Swilling, state dental director, said in a statement. \u201cWe encourage Utahns to have regular checkups with a dentist or healthcare provider to make sure they are doing everything they can to protect their oral health.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000f3b6mdhcuizz2@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The Utah Oral Health Coalition, a volunteer group of dozens of oral health professionals and advocates, is also launching a public awareness campaign centered around the tagline \u201cMy Smile Matters.\u201d It\u2019s a comprehensive initiative focused on steps people can take to keep the teeth and mouth healthy, including regular dentist visits, regular brushing and flossing, and use of fluoride supplements.    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/related-content\/instances\/cmad3yefw00013b6m99exqeat@published\" data-component-name=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content-elevate related-content--article\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<header class=\"related-content__title related-content__title-text\" data-editable=\"content.title\">Related article<\/header>\n<section class=\"related-content__body\">\n<div class=\"related-content__image image__related-content\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cm3q50rv3004p2dp15tpoaqli@published\" class=\"image-elevate image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"20241121-data-fluoride-FINAL.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--eq-large&quot;: 660}\" data-original-ratio=\"0.5625\" data-original-height=\"900\" data-original-width=\"1600\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/20241121-data-fluoride-final.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--show-credits&quot;: 525}\">           <\/div>\n<div class=\"image__metadata-container media__metadata-container\">\n<div class=\"image__metadata media__metadata\">\n<div class=\"image__caption attribution\">    <span data-editable=\"metaCaption\" class=\"inline-placeholder\"><\/span>  <\/div><figcaption class=\"image__credit\">Photo Illustration by Alberto Mier\/CNN\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"related-content__headline\">        <span class=\"related-content__headline-text\" data-editable=\"content.headline\">What to know about fluoride in drinking water<\/span>      <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000g3b6mvi6n85xf@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cHalf of our state will be losing water fluoridation. The other half has not had it. So for half of the state, the message is: \u2018You no longer have water fluoridation. Our job has become a little harder, and here are things we need you to know,\u2019 \u201d said Lorna Koci, program director and chair of the coalition. \u201cTo the other half of the state that hasn\u2019t had it, it\u2019s still a wonderful message: \u2018Here are the things you need to do to really have good oral health.\u2019 \u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000h3b6mmbcdigdr@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The hope is to use a wide range of partners \u2013 including health departments, community clinics, hospital systems, insurance companies, dental schools and school districts \u2013 to get the message out in as many different ways and places as possible.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000i3b6mgtieeyeg@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The coalition also plans to partner with local universities to develop a plan to track the impacts of the fluoride ban. The goal is to collect information that many advocates wish the state legislature had before passing the fluoride ban.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad384p9000j3b6mgcctbioy@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cWhen we asked the governor to veto this bill, we said we really don\u2019t have the information that\u2019s needed to make a decision of this impact,\u201d Koci said. \u201cWe wish we had more data available.\u201d    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cmad62xny00013b6mubw7n3sz@published\" class=\"image_large-elevate image_large__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-name=\"247396671832988951.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image_large--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image_large--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image_large--eq-large&quot;: 660}\" data-original-ratio=\"0.7529296875\" data-original-height=\"1542\" data-original-width=\"2048\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/247396671832988951.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_large__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image_large--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image_large--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image_large--show-credits&quot;: 525}\">           <\/div>\n<div class=\"image_large__metadata-container media__metadata-container\">\n<div class=\"image_large__metadata media__metadata\">\n<div class=\"image_large__caption attribution\">    <span data-editable=\"metaCaption\" class=\"inline-placeholder\">The logistics around stopping the flow of fluoride into public water systems in Utah have been simple, essentially just disconnecting tanks.<\/span>  <\/div><figcaption class=\"image_large__credit\">Jason Mietchen\/Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"subheader inline-placeholder subheader-elevate\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/cmad397cm000m3b6mzuvp6psj@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"an-insufficient-alternative\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">        An insufficient alternative<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad379hg00003b6mllmvya06@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The new law in Utah allows pharmacists to provide fluoride directly, without a prescription from a dentist or doctor. While this broadens access for some, experts say supplements are an insufficient alternative to community water fluoridation \u2013 and may create new risks.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000r3b6mxqf5pwlf@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Fluoride supplements tend to have poor compliance, said Dr. Scott Tomar, professor and associate dean at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry and the American Dental Association\u2019s spokesperson on community water fluoridation. There\u2019s a financial burden as well as a steep logistical burden that falls on the family to administer the supplement every day, he said.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000s3b6mero95gpa@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cWe\u2019re all just dealing with lots of other demands in our in our daily routine. You\u2019re talking busy parents of young children, expecting them to now add one more thing to their daily routine,\u201d Tomar said. \u201cWe just know from experience that the families that would benefit the most from that are probably the ones least likely to ensure compliance with daily administration.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad45otz00003b6mmcgs0o0g@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Fluoride supplements are available in the form of a chewable tablet or a lozenge that is sucked for at least a minute, according to the CDC. They are meant to be used every day and typically geared toward children.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad4o22i00023b6mz3bwbyna@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Fluoride supplementation is not indicated for adults, Tomar said, so there\u2019s no strong alternative for adults in areas that are stopping community water fluoridation.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000t3b6mv1hr3whj@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The appropriate dosage for fluoride supplements varies, and experts worry that pharmacists and health care providers who are new to prescribing it \u2013 or haven\u2019t had to do so in many years \u2013 may not have all the training or information they need.    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/related-content\/instances\/cmad3ys2000033b6msy82tdbq@published\" data-component-name=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content-elevate related-content--article\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<header class=\"related-content__title related-content__title-text\" data-editable=\"content.title\">Related article<\/header>\n<section class=\"related-content__body\">\n<div class=\"related-content__image image__related-content\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cm8t7490b000q26p447plcd7p@published\" class=\"image-elevate image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"Rural_Dentist_05.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--eq-large&quot;: 660}\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\" data-original-height=\"2000\" data-original-width=\"3000\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/rural-dentist-05.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--show-credits&quot;: 525}\">       out of a small clinic in the back of an antique store. About 25 million Americans live in<br \/>dentist shortage areas, according to new research from Harvard University.&#8221; class=&#8221;image__dam-img image__dam-img&#8211;loading&#8221; onload=&#8221;this.classList.remove(&#8216;image__dam-img&#8211;loading&#8217;)&#8221; onerror=&#8221;imageLoadError(this)&#8221; height=&#8221;2000&#8243; width=&#8221;3000&#8243; loading=&#8221;lazy&#8221;&gt;    <\/div>\n<div class=\"image__metadata-container media__metadata-container\">\n<div class=\"image__metadata media__metadata\">\n<div class=\"image__caption attribution\">    <span data-editable=\"metaCaption\" class=\"inline-placeholder\">David Potts is treated by James Flanagin, the only dentist in Leslie, Arkansas, who operates<br \/>out of a small clinic in the back of an antique store. About 25 million Americans live in<br \/>dentist shortage areas, according to new research from Harvard University.<\/span>  <\/div><figcaption class=\"image__credit\">Katie Adkins\/KFF Health News<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"related-content__headline\">        <span class=\"related-content__headline-text\" data-editable=\"content.headline\">With few dentists and fluoride under siege, rural America risks new surge of tooth decay<\/span>      <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000u3b6m53wfcc7r@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The CDC has historically put out a report that providers use to assess the baseline level of fluoride in a community water system before supplementing it with tablets or drops, but Trump administration cuts to the federal agency\u2019s oral health department leaves a critical gap.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000v3b6md82ockz6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            These challenges could lead to overprescribing fluoride \u2013 a key argument for ending community water fluoridation in the first place.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000w3b6mhi71se7a@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cSo now the Utah Dental Association is doing a lot of research to be able to help pharmacists, and we\u2019re hoping to give reports out to say, \u2018Hey, this is the natural amount of fluoride in these communities,\u2019 because we are nervous about that,\u201d said Chamberlain, who is a past president of the Utah Dental Association. \u201cWe want to make sure that the public is protected and that they\u2019re getting the right amount of fluoride prescribed from whatever source it is from.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000x3b6mhqu735kz@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Community water fluoridation was effective at preventing cavities, but now the burden falls on public health for more active messaging about prevention in oral health, said Brian Hatch, the Davis County health director. That will require a lot more public health resources, which are already stretched thin.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000y3b6m4fi5do4g@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cPublic health will have to do more in the future to make sure that we reinforce that message going out to every individual in the community,\u201d Hatch said. \u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a huge need to do a lot of that outreach, but now there is a need to make sure that it\u2019s a reoccurring message.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70000z3b6mb3rw9jmh@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            It will require more effort from individuals to support their own health, he said.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000103b6mvje3obxn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cThe big shift that I\u2019m probably most concerned about is how we make sure that we get the same bang for the buck by moving people to an active role in their own personal health instead of it being a passive system,\u201d Hatch said.    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader inline-placeholder subheader-elevate\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/cmad39rip001d3b6mi80webff@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"simple-shift-big-impact\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">        Simple shift, big impact<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000123b6mrl3ne3b6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The logistics around stopping the flow of fluoride into public water systems in Utah have been simple.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000133b6mn9mf6j8p@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            Three water treatment plants in Salt Lake City had already disconnected the system before the May 7 deadline. The fluoride was stored in a large tank and pumped into water in measured doses as it came out of treatment plants and ground water wells.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000143b6m1vjwm155@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cThe process of removing additional fluoride from the system is essentially just disconnecting the tanks that are used to store the acid from the treatment system,\u201d said Laura Briefer, director of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities. \u201cIt\u2019s basically just removing the feed pumps that are used to dose the water. It\u2019s quite simple.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000153b6m17a1023k@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            But the department has been planning for this change for months, she said. Fluoride is bought in bulk like other treatment chemicals, and there are strict regulations around disposing of excess, so it made sense to start tapering off before ordering more.    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/related-content\/instances\/cmad3zpy600073b6mnv0hle7x@published\" data-component-name=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content-elevate related-content--article\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<header class=\"related-content__title related-content__title-text\" data-editable=\"content.title\">Related article<\/header>\n<section class=\"related-content__body\">\n<div class=\"related-content__image image__related-content\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cm5l60y3t007w26qr1ojygxa8@published\" class=\"image-elevate image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"c-AP24269621101476.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--eq-large&quot;: 660}\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"2400\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-ap24269621101476.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{&quot;image--eq-extra-small&quot;: 115, &quot;image--eq-small&quot;: 300, &quot;image--show-credits&quot;: 525}\">           <\/div>\n<div class=\"image__metadata-container media__metadata-container\">\n<div class=\"image__metadata media__metadata\">\n<div class=\"image__caption attribution\">    <span data-editable=\"metaCaption\" class=\"inline-placeholder\">A student drinks from a water fountain at an elementary school in California in September 2023.<\/span>  <\/div><figcaption class=\"image__credit\">Marcio Jose Sanchez\/AP\/File<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"related-content__headline\">        <span class=\"related-content__headline-text\" data-editable=\"content.headline\">Children exposed to higher fluoride levels have lower IQs, a government study finds<\/span>      <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000163b6m95qbplnd@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            There is some naturally occurring fluoride in the Salt Lake City water system, but the water company estimates that any additional fluoride will be processed through the system in a matter of days.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000173b6m58qaievv@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The Utah Department of Environmental Quality is in charge of ensuring that water systems across the state are complying with the new law, and it\u2019s requested photo documentation that treatment has been disconnected.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000183b6mt17zh1ee@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            In the weeks since the legislation was passed, the Salt Lake City public utilities department has had a \u201cdiversity of feedback from community members,\u201d Briefer said; some residents have called to ask that fluoride be removed immediately while others have suggested that they should go against the law and keep adding fluoride.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b7000193b6mtkpzndyz@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cAs a public water system, we\u2019re charged with implementing the regulations before us,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are also ultimately involved in protecting the public health.\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70001a3b6mzteacyjj@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities was not supportive of a fluoride ban in Utah and had lobbied legislators for a \u201ccompromise bill\u201d that would include some monitoring of fluoride levels instead of \u201coutright prohibition,\u201d Briefer said. And it hasn\u2019t determined whether it will dispose of the equipment used for community water fluoridation or save it for the possibility of future use.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmad39b70001b3b6m0u1xfafd@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">            \u201cOne of the things that I would like to see as an outcome of this is some additional monitoring about public health outcomes once the fluoride is removed from the systems that has been historically added to in our state,\u201d Briefer said. \u201cSince we\u2019ve taken this action, I feel like, as a community, we have an obligation to understand what those impacts are, so that we can mitigate any negative impacts to the community we serve.\u201d    <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div>This post appeared first on cnn.com<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Water availability See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Link Copied! Follow Dentists in Utah can tell rather quickly whether their patients grew up in the Salt Lake City area or in a different part of the state. Salt Lake County, neighboring Davis County to the north and nearby Brigham City \u2013 home to about &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"loftocean_post_primary_category":0,"loftocean_post_format_gallery":"","loftocean_post_format_gallery_ids":"","loftocean_post_format_gallery_urls":"","loftocean_post_format_video_id":0,"loftocean_post_format_video_url":"","loftocean_post_format_video_type":"","loftocean_post_format_video":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_type":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_url":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_id":0,"loftocean_post_format_audio":"","loftocean-featured-post":"","loftocean-like-count":0,"loftocean-view-count":496,"tinysalt_single_post_intro_label":"","tinysalt_single_post_intro_description":"","tinysalt_hide_post_featured_image":"","tinysalt_post_featured_media_position":"","tinysalt_single_site_header_source":"","tinysalt_single_custom_site_header":"0","tinysalt_single_custom_sticky_site_header":"0","tinysalt_single_custom_sticky_site_header_style":"sticky-scroll-up","tinysalt_single_site_footer_source":"","tinysalt_single_custom_site_footer":"0","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2277\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/retirednurseblog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}