Against the background of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being nominated as head of the Department of Health and Human Services for Donald Trump’s impending administration, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law legislation that makes it easier for pediatric dental patients to receive fluoride treatments.
Kennedy has vowed to try to eliminate the use of fluoride in public water sources. Fluoride has been demonstrated to be an effective additive that prevents tooth decay. It has been added in very small amounts to public water supplies in the U.S. since the 1940s.
Kennedy alleges that studies show that fluoride can damage dental health and cause bone problems. However, the studies that he cites as evidence were done to show the effects of excessively large doses of fluoride, not the tiny amounts used in water supplies. The use of fluoride in public water supplies was a controversial issue in the 1950s when critics charged, among other things, that adding fluoride to water was a Communist plot.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, when visiting Rochester on Nov. 15, told Channel 10 News, “Fluoride is tightly regulated in New York state; the communities that fluorinate are highly regulated, we play very close supervision of that, these are county and state decisions here, really isn’t a role for the federal government in this.”
The new law allows registered dental assistants and licensed practical nurses to apply topical fluoride varnish to the teeth of children, greatly expanding the number of licensed professionals in the state who are authorized to provide this treatment.
“Fluoride is scientifically proven to prevent cavities and protect our kids’ teeth,” Hochul said. “As a mom, I know how difficult it can be to get an appointment at the dentist’s office and how critical it is for our kids to maintain good oral hygiene. That’s why I’m signing this legislation to expand access to fluoride treatments, keeping our kids healthy and strong.”
