On April 7, 2025, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the Associated Press that he plans to tell public health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending the fluoridation of community drinking water as part of his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda. While state and local governments retain control over the fluoridation of community water systems, Kennedy’s directive could shift the narrative around public health recommendations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has the authority to regulate the maximum level of fluoride in public water systems, stated that it will conduct a scientific evaluation of the matter. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) echoed Kennedy’s sentiments, stating that fluoride levels in drinking water deserve a real evaluation and expressing concern that “it may be having a negative effect on the health of children.” Senator Bill Cassidy, MD, the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, expressed support for recommendations made by organized dentistry that fluoride remains an important preventive measure against cavities. 

Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD issued a press release urging HHS to continue support for water fluoridation, which was widely shared among administration officials and key figures on Capitol Hill. The full release can be found here. AGD’s statement comes in response to Secretary Kennedy’s announcement and follows Utah’s recent passage of a law banning fluoride in drinking water. This decision marks a significant shift in the U.S. public health approach, which has incorporated low levels of fluoride in water supplies for over 80 years. The AGD remains committed to advocating for the continued use of fluoride as a preventative measure against cavities and tooth decay.