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Kids' cavities would increase by millions if every state banned fluoride, study finds (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Florida and Utah have already removed fluoridation from public water systems. What if the rest of the country follows?

The long-term effects of banning fluoride from public drinking water across the country could cost families billions of dollars and result in millions of rotten teeth, a new analysis predicts.

The study, published Friday in JAMA Health Forum, shows that if all 50 states stopped community water fluoridation programs, kids in the U.S. could expect to develop 25.4 million more cavities within the next five years.

That’s the equivalent of a decayed tooth in 1 out of every 3 children.

The number of cavities would more than double in 10 years, to 53.8 million.

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Poor people often can't afford toothbrushes and/or toothpaste, let alone the "recommended" (read: mandatory, or people will say you deserved to lose your teeth) floss, mouthwash, electric toothbrush, etc., all from "reputable brands".

[-] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

Poor people often can’t afford toothbrushes and/or toothpaste

... What? Is this sarcasm, or did you mean to say "completely destitute" instead of "poor"?

A quick search on Walmart right now shows a 4 pack of toothbrushes for $2.95 and individual tubes of toothpaste for $1.00.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

There are times, when that $2.95 is needed for your dinner, plus poverty-induced anxiety messes with your brain.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

I don't buy this argument. A single toothbrush lasts months, and a tube of paste can also last months if you're careful with it... But even if you don't, it's one freaking dollar. You don't even need to be a beggar to scrounge up a dollar, just walk through any public place and you'll probably find enough coins on the ground.

poverty-induced anxiety messes with your brain.

Someone not brushing their teeth (or otherwise taking care of themselves) because of depression or some other mental illness is a whole different issue. It's also not unique to poverty.

[-] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

A single toothbrush lasts months

Poor people often use them for a year.

Someone not brushing their teeth (or otherwise taking care of themselves) because of depression or some other mental illness is a whole different issue. It’s also not unique to poverty.

But is more common among poor people, because poverty induces a constant state of stress.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

it's not always the cost but the parents that need to set an example. if dental health and good brushing habits taught to children at least the flouride acts as some backup

this post was submitted on 30 May 2025

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