CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fluoride has long been considered an important health achievement, but it could be removed from water systems under the Trump administration.
An estimated 75% of Americans drink fluoridated water daily. Experts say it helps lessens acidity and strengthens teeth enamel, which reduces tooth decay by as much as 25%.
However, fluoride has faced increasing scrutiny on the national stage.
Most recently, Trump adviser Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called it "industrial waste” that leads to health issues like "arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss."
There are small studies that suggest fluoride exposure during pregnancy could impact children.
However, those are very small studies. Health experts also warn that getting rid of it could lead to more cavities, which could heavily impact families without dental care.
RELATED: Claims suggesting NIH declared that fluoride in water 'reduces the IQ of children' are misleading
Ultimately, it’s up to local jurisdictions to decide whether to put fluoride in the water, not the federal government.
In the greater Charlotte area, Union County is among those that have already decided to remove fluoride from the county water supply.
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