Is Fluoridated Water a Threat to Public Health?
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller recently urged state officials to ban the decades-long practice of adding fluoride to public water supplies. His call echoes that of newly confirmed U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long criticized water fluoridation, alleging links to health issues such as arthritis, bone fractures, and IQ reduction. Kennedy has pledged to “Make America Healthy Again.” To accomplish this, fluoride needs to be eliminated from water supplies — not just in Texas, but across the entire nation.
At first glance, fluoridation appears to be a well-intentioned public health measure designed to reduce cavities. That’s the story Americans have been sold for over 70 years. But dig a little deeper, and a darker narrative emerges — one involving industrial waste, corporate greed, and an elaborate psychological operation that has shaped public perception for generations.
Contrary to popular belief, fluoride was never intended as a health supplement, at least not in the same way as vitamins or minerals. It entered public health discussions after researchers recognized its potential to reduce dental caries. However, it was also a by-product of aluminum production, a compound that manufacturers found difficult to dispose of safely.
Enter Edward Bernays, the father of modern public relations and a nephew of Sigmund Freud. Bernays understood mass psychology like few others. He wielded it like a weapon, manufacturing consent with ruthless efficiency. In fact, it was Bernays who convinced Americans that bacon and eggs were the quintessential breakfast. He even coined the now-ubiquitous idea that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” (It’s not.)
So, when industry leaders sought to rebrand industrial waste as a health benefit, the Vienna-born pioneer delivered. He orchestrated a relentless PR campaign, enlisting doctors, dentists, and government agencies to promote fluoride’s supposed virtues. Critics were mocked and labeled as conspiracy theorists. Their concerns were buried under industry-funded studies and official endorsements. The narrative solidified: fluoride equals healthy teeth. End of discussion. (RELATED: Good Health Depends on Us, Not the Government)
Except it wasn’t.
Negative Health Impacts of Fluoridated Water
Over the years, more and more peer-reviewed studies began surfacing, linking fluoride to a litany of health issues. A 2012 Harvard study found that children in high-fluoride areas scored significantly lower on IQ tests compared to those in low-fluoride areas. Another study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2017 reinforced these findings, showing a direct correlation between prenatal fluoride exposure and reduced cognitive development in children. The Lancet even classified fluoride as a developmental neurotoxin, placing it in the same category as lead and mercury.
And the risks don’t end with cognitive impairment.
Peer-reviewed research highlights fluoride’s detrimental effects on the thyroid gland. Exposure has been associated with hypothyroidism, which can lead to fatigue, weight gain, and depression. A study published in Osteoporosis International linked prolonged ingestion with skeletal fluorosis, a painful condition leading to joint stiffness and bone fractures. Dental fluorosis, marked by permanent staining and weakening of teeth, is another visible consequence — somewhat ironic, considering fluoride’s intended role in dental health.
Additionally, and this is a vitally important point, unlike medications prescribed by a doctor, fluoride in water offers no control over dosage. Infants, adults, the elderly — everyone drinks from the same tap, regardless of individual health needs or vulnerabilities. According to the CDC, infants fed formula mixed with fluoridated water risk ingesting fluoride levels far exceeding recommended limits. This practice has been criticized as a form of mass medication without individual consent. (RELATED: Big Pharma’s Reign Is Over)
This begs the question: Why the persistence?
Follow the money.
Aluminum companies, phosphate fertilizer producers, and chemical manufacturers all benefit from continued fluoridation. Water treatment contracts, chemical sales, and lobbying efforts form a lucrative network resistant to scrutiny and even more resistant to change. Governments, reluctant to admit complicity or error, double down on outdated policies. Public health agencies, wary of undermining trust, maintain the status quo. It seems to be a self-perpetuating system where established interests overshadow meaningful reconsideration. (RELATED: Trump: Look at the Slow-Moving FDA)
Sid Miller’s call to end fluoridation should resonate with all Americans. It’s a demand for transparency and accountability. Americans deserve to know what’s in their water and why. They deserve science untainted by corporate influence and public health policies rooted in genuine care, not shady deals. They deserve to be able to ask valid questions without being dismissed.
Of course, critics will scoff, waving off concerns as fringe nonsense. But one needn’t be wearing a tin foil hat to push back. History is littered with once-accepted “truths” that proved deadly. Doctors endorsed smoking. Asbestos was declared safe. Leaded gasoline was everywhere. Hard lessons ignored become tragedies repeated.
Moreover, several countries have eliminated water fluoridation. Sweden banned it in 1971. Germany and Denmark stopped fluoridation due to health risks and the availability of alternative dental care methods. The Netherlands ended the practice in 1976 after the Supreme Court ruled it violated individual rights. Japan and Belgium never fluoridated water, favoring targeted dental treatments instead.
In the U.S., the fluoride issue boils down to autonomy and the right to challenge authority. A classified neurotoxin is added to public water without approval — what does that say about who holds power?
Maybe it’s time to rethink fluoride. At the very least, Americans ought to be able to raise the question without being labeled as wacky conspiracy theorists.
READ MORE from John Mac Ghlionn:
Maureen Dowd: Patron Saint of Smug, Shallow Journalism
Is JD Vance a ‘Godawful’ Christian?
Omidyar: The Shady Anti-Trump Billionaire
