NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Saturday that she signed legislation allowing for greater access to fluoride treatments for pediatric dental patients to “[keep] our kids healthy and strong.”
The legislation will expand authorization to registered dental assistants and licensed practical nurses in New York State to apply topical fluoride varnish during dental care, expanding the number of professionals who can provide the 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.”
The move from the governor comes weeks after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services for his administration—claimed that fluoride was associated with a host of medical issues.
“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote on X days before Trump’s election.
Kennedy, a former Independent candidate who endorsed Trump and campaigned for him with the slogan “Make America Healthy Again,” is an anti-vaccine activist and has claimed that fluoride is “associated with” arthritis, low bone density, IQ loss and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Water fluoridation has occurred in the United States since 1945, and the CDC emphasizes that “Science and public health organizations have conducted comprehensive reviews that offer strong evidence of community water fluoridation’s safety and effectiveness.”
The CDC recommends that the concentration of fluoride in drinking water be 0.7 milligrams per liter, which it says maximizes fluoride’s oral benefits while minimizing potential harms like dental fluorosis, or a change in tooth appearance to be splotchy.
Dental fluorosis caused the recommendation to be lowered from 1.2 milligrams per liter of water in 2015.
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, parents can be confident that their children will receive fluoride dental treatments that can significantly improve their child’s dental health, which as we know can impact the health of the entire body,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.