Two states have now passed fluoride bans. These other ones introduced bills.

Following a propulsion by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and different Republican-led state, Florida this week banned the long-standing signifier of adding fluoride to nationalist h2o systems.

Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis, connected May 15, signed the 2025 "Florida Farm Bill," which removes fluoride from the state's ineligible explanation of acceptable "water prime additives."

Fluoride, a people occurring element, is recovered successful water, soil, aerial and immoderate foods, helps forestall dental cavities and bony decay.

In a measurement opposed by dentists and medical organizations but praised by Kennedy, the caput of U.S. Health and Human Services, and others questioning it's safety, Utah became the archetypal state to prohibition fluoride earlier this year.

The caller authorities was signed into instrumentality by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox connected March 29 aft being approved by the Utah State Senate successful precocious February.

Why are states banning fluoride successful nationalist water? How galore states person nixed the mineral from drinking water? What different states could travel successful their footsteps? Here's what to know.

Opinion: DeSantis bans fluoride successful Florida water, pursuing RFK Jr.'s pro-tooth decay pb

Which states person banned fluoride?

As of May 16, 2 states had banned fluoride from nationalist drinking water.

• Utah: Republican authorities lawmakers Rep. Stephanie Gricius and Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore sponsored the bill, which was signed by Cox and went into effect May 7.

• Florida: The bill, introduced by Republican authorities Sen. Keith Truenow, was signed by DeSantis connected May 15 and is acceptable to go into effect connected July 1.

Exclusive: As RFK Jr. targets fluoride, Texas is coming for kids toothpaste

Which states person anti-fluoride bills connected the table?

Several different states person introduced bills that would curb the usage of fluoride successful water. They include:

Lawmakers successful different states including North Dakota, Arkansas, Tennessee, Montana and New Hampshire saw anti-fluoride authorities effort but the measure either failed oregon was tabled and missed deadline for the year.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is an inorganic, bony health-boosting mineral that helps forestall cavities and strengthens teeth.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has touted fluoridation arsenic 1 of the 10 top nationalist wellness achievements of the 20th century. The CDC maintains that fluoridated h2o is some harmless and cost-effective.

The mineral has been added to public h2o supplies for decades successful the U.S. and to dental products including toothpaste, arsenic a dental cavities prevention measure.

Why are immoderate states banning fluoride successful water?

Kennedy, who was appointed by President Donald Trump arsenic the nation's apical wellness advisor contempt having nary aesculapian grooming nether his belt, has led a renewed complaint against adding fluoride to water.

In November, Kennedy announced connected X the Trump administration would "advise each U.S​ h2o systems to region fluoride from nationalist water," citing unconfirmed wellness concerns including arthritis, crab and IQ loss.

Earlier this week, national wellness officials said they are opening to remove ingestible fluoride supplements for children from the market.

Dig deeper: FDA moves to instrumentality fluoride supplements for children disconnected the market

How overmuch fluoride is harmless successful nationalist water?

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends nationalist h2o systems incorporate a fluoride level of .7 milligrams per liter of water. The World Health Organization's recommended limit for fluoride successful drinking h2o is 1.5 milligrams per liter.

Federal nationalist wellness agencies urge nationalist h2o systems beryllium calibrated to little than fractional the fluoride levels which this probe links to little IQ successful children.

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge Ken Alltucker and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY

Natalie Neysa Alund is simply a elder newsman for USA TODAY. Reach her astatine nalund@usatoday.com and travel her connected X @nataliealund.

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Fluoride bans walk successful Florida, Utah. Other states introduced bills.