Health leaders face off in a growing national storm over fluoride in drinking water, with Georgia sitting at the heart of the battle.
Georgia is staring down a public health controversy decades in the making. As federal agencies revisit old science with fresh eyes, the state’s longtime practice of adding fluoride to drinking water is under scrutiny like never before.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending community water fluoridation altogether. His reasoning? New research, public concern, and a growing list of questions that remain unresolved.
Yet Georgia law still requires fluoride in all municipal systems unless voters say otherwise.
New Science Stirs Old Questions
This push isn’t coming out of nowhere. It’s being driven, in part, by new findings from the National Toxicology Program.
The NTP’s recent study has put some real pressure on the conversation. At fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams per liter, researchers found a link to lowered IQ scores. That’s not a small claim — especially in a state where roughly 95% of residents drink fluoridated water every day.
The research also says something else: more studies are needed. Especially when it comes to lower levels — which is where most U.S. cities, including those in Georgia, tend to sit.
One sentence in the report raised eyebrows: “More research is needed to better understand if there are health risks associated with low fluoride exposures.” Critics latched onto it. Supporters of fluoridation? Not so much.
Doctors Defend the Status Quo
Many Georgia physicians aren’t convinced there’s a problem. In fact, some say pulling fluoride now would be reckless.
“To suggest we abandon fluoridation based on inconclusive evidence would be like throwing away seatbelts because of one report,” said Dr. Ellen Mahoney, a pediatric dentist in Macon. She’s treated children in rural parts of Georgia where cavities are rampant and access to dental care is limited.
Others echoed the same sentiment. For many health professionals, fluoride remains one of the most effective — and cheapest — public health tools around.
“I’ve practiced in parts of Georgia where kids have never seen a dentist. Fluoride might be the only reason they still have teeth,” Mahoney added.
But that hasn’t stopped the opposition from growing louder.
Critics Gain Traction in Georgia
Stuart Cooper isn’t a household name, but in fluoride circles, he’s become something of a national figure.
He leads the Fluoride Action Network — a group that’s been fighting fluoridation policies for years. Cooper believes that what was once seen as a public health win is now a dangerous relic. And in Georgia, he’s gaining allies.
“Communities deserve a say in what’s in their water,” Cooper said during a recent radio interview in Atlanta. “People should be given a choice — not forced medication.”
That “forced medication” phrase? It’s repeated often by critics. It packs a punch, especially in places already wary of federal health guidance post-pandemic.
Here’s what they’re pointing to:
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The NTP study’s suggested link between high fluoride and IQ decline
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Countries like Sweden and the Netherlands, which have banned water fluoridation
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The EPA’s ongoing review of potential risks
The EPA, for its part, says it’s still analyzing new scientific data and hasn’t changed the federal standard. But critics say the damage is already done.
Georgia’s Law and the Public Vote Option
Unlike most states, Georgia actually requires fluoridation — unless the public votes against it.
That might soon become a bigger issue. As Kennedy’s task force begins work and more voters catch wind of the fluoride debate, local governments could face pressure to trigger referendums. These aren’t easy to pass, though.
Many Georgians simply don’t know they can vote on this.
Here’s how it works under current state law:
| Law/Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Mandatory Fluoridation | All water systems in Georgia must fluoridate unless exempted |
| Public Referendum | Local governments can hold a vote to opt out |
| CDC Role | Still recommends fluoride nationwide, based on past decades of research |
| EPA Role | Sets legal limits; currently reviewing new science |
In Valdosta, residents recently started circulating petitions after learning their city had among the highest fluoride concentrations in the state. They’re not alone. Several small towns are reportedly considering similar moves.
The CDC Stays Silent — For Now
Interestingly, the CDC has kept quiet through most of this. Not surprising, perhaps — its headquarters are in Atlanta, the epicenter of the debate.
CDC spokespersons declined to comment on Kennedy’s remarks or the NTP study when asked by local outlets. For now, the agency continues to stand by its decades-old stance: that fluoridation is safe and effective.
Back in the 1950s, it was hailed as a breakthrough. It helped slash tooth decay rates across the U.S. — especially in low-income communities. But in 2025? The conversation feels very different.
Public trust in federal health authorities has taken a beating in recent years. And with a Kennedy now leading the charge against fluoride, politics is seeping into a once mostly scientific issue.
What’s Next for Georgia?
This isn’t just a science debate anymore. It’s cultural, political, and very local.
Georgia residents could start seeing referendum efforts pop up in their communities. Activist groups are already mobilizing. And while the CDC and EPA hash things out in D.C., local voices will likely shape what happens next on the ground.
