Tennessee is a national leader in fluoridated water usage
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More than 80% of the population was served by fluoridated community water systems as of 2022, per the latest CDC estimates.
Zoom out: Tennessee's share is much higher than the nationwide figure of 63%.
Why it matters: Fluoridation is once again becoming a political flashpoint, with Utah and Florida recently moving to ban the practice — a step encouraged by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The latest: The issue was up for debate in the Tennessee statehouse earlier this year.
- Legislation to eliminate or reduce fluoride levels in Tennessee's public water supply ultimately fizzled out for the year.
The big picture: Dental and public health experts have long argued in favor of community fluoridation, wherein fluoride is added to public water supplies to help prevent tooth decay.
Yes, but: Fluoridation has long been controversial among detractors who view it as a form of government overreach into personal health choices.