America has an oral health crisis

Major shifts in public health policy can bring unforeseen consequences. But in the case of fluoride bans, we already know what the consequences will be: higher costs of dental care, and higher rates of tooth decay — especially among children.

This is particularly alarming because dental care is already increasingly unaffordable and out of reach for millions of Americans. The latest data shows that 72 million Americans lack dental insurance. Medicare does not cover dental services, and Medicaid only guarantees dental coverage for children — adult dental coverage varies by state. Millions of the lucky people who do get dental insurance through Medicaid are expected to lose coverage after Congress and the president approved a budget that will strip nearly $1 trillion and 10 million enroll