RFK Jr. Admits That Banning Fluoridated Water Will Cause 'More Cavities'—But He's OK With That

Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was criticized after admitting in a Fox News interview with Harris Faulkner that his proposed fluoridated water ban would likely lead people to have more cavities—but defended the move nonetheless.

While fluoride is not federally mandated in drinking water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had long recommended its inclusion. Fluoride helps prevent cavities by strengthening enamel, and numerous studies have shown that fluoridated water reduces tooth decay in both children and adults.

Fluoridation began in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after studies linked naturally fluoridated water to lower cavity rates. Follow-up research in Grand Rapids confirmed a dramatic drop in tooth decay among children, prompting its widespread adoption across the U.S.

Where fluoride is added to tap water, it's typically maintained at a concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter, in line with public health guidelines. Dental organizations, however, have warned that eliminating fluoride could worsen oral health outcomes, particularly among children.

When asked by Faulkner about concerns from dentists that eliminating fluoride would harm children, particularly those from lower-income families who cannot afford regular dental visits, Kennedy had this to say:

"Well, people will still get indemnified for it to the extent that they’re already indemnified. But, you know, it is an issue, it’s a balance. You’re gonna see probably slightly more cavities—although in Europe, where they banned fluoride, they did not see an uptick in cavities."

"The issue is, parents need to decide because the science is very clear on fluoride. The National Toxicity Program issued a report of a meta-review of all the science on it in August that said there’s a direct inverse correlation between the amount of fluoride in your water and your loss of IQ."

You can hear what he said in the video below.

He was swiftly called out for his remarks—it seemed clear he didn't care at all about the consequences of ignoring the science.

While Kennedy cannot mandate that communities halt fluoridation—since those decisions are made at the local level—he said he would assemble a task force of health experts to reexamine the issue and offer new federal guidelines. He has called fluoride a “dangerous neurotoxin.”

Notably, Kennedy claimed just days before the presidential election that if re-elected, then-candidate Donald Trump would prioritize eliminating fluoride from the nation’s drinking water starting on his first day in office.

The American Dental Association said that "when government officials like Secretary Kennedy stand behind the commentary of misinformation and distrust peer-reviewed research, it is injurious to public health."