Projected outcomes of removing fluoride from U.S. public water systems

JAMA Health Forum

2025-05-30

(Press-News.org) About The Study: This cost-effectiveness analysis found that cessation of public water fluoridation would increase tooth decay and health system costs in the U.S. Despite concerns regarding toxic effects associated with high levels of fluoride, this model demonstrates the substantial ongoing benefits of water fluoridation at safe levels currently recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicity Program, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Lisa Simon, MD, DMD, email lsimon@bwh.harvard.edu.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.1166)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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About JAMA Health Forum: JAMA Health Forum is an international, peer-reviewed, online, open access journal that addresses health policy and strategies affecting medicine, health and health care. The journal publishes original research, evidence-based reports and opinion about national and global health policy; innovative approaches to health care delivery; and health care economics, access, quality, safety, equity and reform. Its distribution will be solely digital and all content will be freely available for anyone to read.

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Projected outcomes of removing fluoride from U.S. public water systems

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