Amid growing efforts to end water fluoridation in some parts of the United States, a new national survey conducted by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health finds that most Americans continue to support or accept the practice. The results indicate that 81 percent of adults either support (52 percent) or are not opposed to (29 percent) fluoride in drinking water. Only 6 percent of respondents expressed support for banning water fluoridation entirely.
According to the survey, nearly all respondents — 96 percent — trust their family doctor or pediatrician to provide accurate information about fluoride. The poll also found that 86 percent of Americans report using some form of fluoride, and 79 percent believe the government should take steps to protect and improve oral health.
“This survey confirms that the campaign against water fluoridation is out of step with not only the vast majority of the scientific and medical communities, but with the American people, too,” said Melissa Burroughs, senior director of public policy at CareQuest Institute. “The government should protect oral health, not cut off access to basic preventive care like fluoride.”
The survey results come at a time when some municipalities are considering bans or rollbacks of water fluoridation. According to CareQuest Institute, more than 7,000 scientific studies have evaluated the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation at levels used in the United States. Major health organizations, including the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Mayo Clinic, continue to support community water fluoridation.
In addition, a recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) estimated that eliminating community water fluoridation could lead to more than 25 million additional decayed teeth among children in the United States. The study also projected $9.8 billion in increased health care costs, with disproportionate effects on low-income and uninsured families. The JAMA study is available here, and further information from CareQuest Institute about it is available here.
The CareQuest survey found that even among those who oppose fluoridation, most still believe that decisions should be made at the community level rather than through blanket federal policy.
The CareQuest Institute poll was conducted online by Marketing for Change Co. between July 7 and July 9, 2025, and included responses from 1,114 U.S. adults. The margin of error due to sampling is plus or minus 2.94 percent.
Full poll results from CareQuest Institute are available here.
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