Will Trump Get Rid of Fluoride In Water? These Are the States Where It Is Most Common

By Hristina  •  November 18, 2024
A detailed shot of water flowing from a steel faucet, ideal for themes on cleanliness or plumbing.https://climatecrisis247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/861414-150x150.jpg

Over the last several years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ascendance in the national public health discourse has exposed millions of Americans to once fringe beliefs related to vaccines, disease, and water fluoridation. In November, RFK Jr. pledged that the incoming Trump administration would advise public water systems to remove fluoride from their water, sparking widespread interest and concern over water fluoridation and its potential health effects.

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While fluoride has been proven to reduce tooth decay, not all community water systems fluoridate their water. The fluoridation process can be cost prohibitive in smaller rural communities, while other municipalities have abstained over safety and health concerns. The prevalence of water fluoridation varies widely throughout the country, with fluoride being over 10 times more common in some states than others. A look at CDC data reveals which states have the most fluoridated drinking water.

To determine the states that drink fluoride the most, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on water fluoridation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States were ranked based on the percentage of residents served by a community water system that are receiving fluoridated water as of December 31, 2022. Supplemental data on the percentage of adults 65 and older who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease is also from the CDC and is for 2020. Google Trends search activity for "fluoride" is based on the period November 18, 2023 to November 18, 2024.

15. Iowa

Pixabay

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 88.8%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 76/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 29.4%
 

14. Connecticut

Pexels / David Kanigan

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 90.4%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 85/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 26.7%
 

13. West Virginia

Pexels / Kelly

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 90.5%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 62/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 48.9%
 

12. Michigan

Pexels / Anon

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 90.8%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 76/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 31.2%
 

11. Indiana

Pexels / Josh Hild

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 91.5%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 70/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 36.0%
 

10. South Carolina

Pexels / Ben Baker

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 92.0%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 68/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 36.0%
 

9. Ohio

Pixabay

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 92.8%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 68/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 34.1%
 

8. Maryland

Pexels / Viviana Camacho

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 93.2%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 77/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 26.8%
 

7. South Dakota

Pexels / Tyler Kissner

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 94.2%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 83/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 31.7%
 

6. Georgia

Pexels / Kelly

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 95.1%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 66/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 41.0%
 

5. Virginia

Pexels / Barry Plott

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 95.6%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 71/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 29.1%
 

4. North Dakota

Pexels / RYAN SHROYER

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 96.5%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 92/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 30.5%
 

3. Illinois

Pexels / Mark G

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 98.2%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 66/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 30.7%
 

2. Minnesota

Pexels / Jithin Mathew

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 98.9%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 85/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 23.7%
 

1. Kentucky

Pexels / Brandon Randolph

  • Population receiving fluoridated water: 99.7%
  • Google search interest in fluoride in past year: 71/100
  • Adults 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease: 43.6%
 

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