Lobbyists Are Blocking Attempts to End Water Fluoridation

• Washburn’s commissioners voted to end fluoridation — Washburn’s commissioners voted 4-1 to stop adding fluoride to the town’s water supply. Their decision came after months of research, public discussion, and expert testimony revealing that fluoridation offers little to no dental benefit while exposing children to documented neurological harm.

• A growing number of communities are moving away from fluoridation — The town became the latest of rural and suburban communities rejecting water fluoridation in light of emerging research regarding its negative health effects. The evidence driving this movement links fluoride exposure to lowered IQ and impaired brain development, even at levels currently promoted by U.S. health agencies.

• Commissioners encountered orchestrated resistance — When the issue was first raised in January, town leaders anticipated a good-faith conversation. Instead, they were immediately met with a wave of pressure that did not originate from within the community.

Letters poured in from out-of-state dental associations, many using identical language and arguments. A closer inspection revealed they were copied from templates circulated by fluoride advocacy groups.

• Public records exposed misuse of federal funds — In response to the unusual intensity of the lobbying, Commissioner Keith Hapip filed a public records request to investigate potential coordination behind the scenes. The documents he obtained confirmed that Jim Kershaw, a fluoride advocate and water superintendent from Bismarck, had worked with North Dakota’s Oral Health Program (OHP) to oppose Washburn’s reconsideration of fluoridation.

Kershaw’s travel expenses to the meeting, despite his public claims of attending on his own, were reimbursed by North Dakota OHP. The OHP is funded by a $380,800 CDC grant and a $400,000 HRSA grant, both of which explicitly prohibit lobbying or influencing legislation.

• Officials were instructed to suppress opposition, not educate — Emails uncovered in Hapip’s records request painted a picture of strategic interference rather than neutral public health support. North Dakota’s OHP Director Cheri Kiefer encouraged Kershaw to “flatten them like a pancake,” referring to Washburn’s elected officials.

The communications included pre-approved form letters for dentists to submit and talking points crafted to maintain the appearance of independent advocacy. These tactics were designed to drown out local debate and create a false impression of unanimous expert support for fluoridation.

• Critics of fluoridation were deliberately silenced and discredited — After identifying the uniformity of the opposition letters, Hapip contacted several of the dentists to ask their opinion on recent studies linking fluoride to neurodevelopmental harm. None responded.

The emails revealed that these inquiries were forwarded to Kershaw, who instructed the dentists not to engage. Following this, Kershaw shifted to using a personal email account rather than his government-issued address, suggesting an attempt to shield communications from further public scrutiny and evade accountability.

• ‘Astroturfing’ was used to manufacture fake public support — “Astroturfing is when a group with money and power pretends to be regular folks supporting something, but it’s really a planned push from the top,” Hapip explained. “Real grassroots come from the community naturally. And here, the oral health program used CDC cash to manufacture support for fluoridation in Washburn.”

• Unprofessional and hostile behavior confirmed private disdain for public dissent — In one email, Dr. Johnny Johnson, president of the American Fluoridation Society, used vulgar language to insult Hapip before offering to respond directly to his inquiries.

Kershaw replied, “Don’t reply to him now, I have a plan.” This behavior revealed not only a strategic intention to suppress Washburn’s efforts, but also a broader culture of disdain toward any officials questioning the fluoridation narrative.

• Other towns are facing the same blueprint of manipulation and reversal — According to the report, nearly identical tactics were used in Grand Forks, where officials also received the same copy-paste letters from dentists ahead of a local fluoridation vote. In McVille, a nearby town that had previously voted to end fluoridation, the decision was reversed after Johnson and his allies flew in to pressure the council.

• Fluoride exposure causes measurable IQ loss in children — A 2023 meta-analysis of 12,263 children across seven countries showed an average IQ drop of 5.6 points among those with higher fluoride exposure.

The drop in IQ got worse with higher fluoride levels, even at amounts once thought to be “safe.” Children with urinary fluoride levels of just 0.28 milligrams per liter (mg/L), equivalent to common fluoridated water consumption, had detectable cognitive deficits.⁶

• Neurodevelopmental harm is permanent and population-wide — The National Toxicology Program’s 2024 report concluded with “moderate confidence” that fluoride exposure, even at levels near the current U.S. target of 0.7 mg/L, impairs cognitive performance in children. The damage occurs during vital stages of brain development, especially in utero and early childhood. These effects are consistent across studies, populations, and methodologies.⁷

• Fluoride disrupts early brain development through hormone interference — Studies show that when babies are exposed to fluoride in the womb, they’re more likely to have impaired executive function and higher rates of ADHD symptoms. These effects are likely caused by thyroid hormone disruption. Florida’s top health official, Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo, cited these findings in calling for an end to water fluoridation.⁸

• Fluoride also affects vital organs and blood function in fetuses — A 2024 study published in Environmental Health⁹ revealed that increasing maternal fluoride concentrations were linked to negative effects on kidney and liver function, which play important roles in systemic detoxification and are known to accumulate more fluoride than other organs in the body.

The study also showed that fluoride exposure lowered key proteins involved in the complement cascade, a part of the immune system that helps control inflammation and affects how a baby’s body develops. Researchers also found changes in proteins linked to blood clotting, suggesting that fluoride may interfere with normal blood function during fetal development.

• Fluoride accumulates in bone tissue, leading to skeletal fluorosis — Chronic fluoride causes it to build up in the bones, which leads to stiff joints, hardened ligaments, and trouble moving around. In areas with moderate to high fluoride exposure, this buildup leads to a serious, irreversible condition called skeletal fluorosis. The early stages often mimic arthritis and remain undiagnosed until permanent damage is done.^10,11

• It alters calcium metabolism and increases fracture risk — Fluoride impairs the balance between bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells, weakening bone structure over time. In populations with long-term fluoride exposure, studies have found increased rates of hip and wrist fractures.^12,13,14

• It disrupts endocrine function beyond the thyroid — Fluoride exposure has been linked to impaired glucose metabolism and altered insulin sensitivity, raising concerns about its role in metabolic diseases.¹⁵ Some studies suggest fluoride interferes with the pineal gland, reducing melatonin production and affecting sleep-wake cycles.¹⁶

• It contributes to muscle atrophy with prolonged exposure — A 2022 study found that long-term fluoride exposure breaks down key proteins in muscles, which leads to muscle shrinking and weakness. The degradation was driven by the upregulation of a pathway linked to muscle wasting.¹⁷

• You have a right to know what is in your water and how it affects your health — You also have a right to question policies that were never based on your consent. This is not just a health issue — it’s about bodily autonomy and the freedom to make informed decisions.

• Ask your local water utility whether your town fluoridates its water — Request documentation on the exact levels and how they are monitored. If your town does add fluoride, ask your local officials to revisit the decision and hold public hearings that include updated research and diverse expert perspectives.

• Review the current science for yourself — Check peer-reviewed studies and credible sources that are not tied to fluoride lobbying groups and acknowledge both risks and benefits. Don’t just accept promotional material from agencies with a vested interest in preserving the status quo.

• If officials are hiding information, demand transparency — You can request internal communications and policy documents. Many of the most revealing details in Washburn came from Freedom of Information Act requests that exposed what officials were trying to hide. These tools are available to you as well.

• Your community has more power than you think — Most importantly, remember that small towns have power when residents stand together. Washburn’s commissioners stood firm despite coordinated opposition from well-funded institutions. They relied on public records, credible science, and a clear understanding of their responsibility to protect residents. That approach is available to any community willing to confront the evidence directly.

1. Install a comprehensive water filtration system — Install a high-quality filtration system designed to remove fluoride from your drinking and cooking water.

Basic carbon filters like Brita and PUR, as well as standard water softeners, won’t remove fluoride, so make sure your system is designed specifically for it. While reverse osmosis has been the standard for removing fluoride for years, it has significant drawbacks, such as wasting water and removing healthy minerals from the water.

Similarly, bone char technology requires the water to be acidic to work properly. Also remember to filter your shower and bath water. Fluoride is absorbed through the skin, so adding filters to showerheads and other water sources throughout your home gives you better protection.

2. Use fluoride-free water for infant formula — If you’re feeding your baby formula, never use fluoridated tap water to mix it. Infants consuming formula prepared with fluoridated water ingest significantly more fluoride than breastfed babies, posing risks to their developing brains. If breastfeeding isn’t an option, opt for filtered, fluoride-free water to protect your baby’s neurological development.

3. Switch to fluoride-free toothpaste and oral care products — Fluoride-containing toothpaste and dental products are among the most common sources of daily fluoride exposure. Avoiding them is one of the simplest ways to lower your intake.

Take time to research fluoride-free alternatives and read ingredient labels carefully. Many conventional brands also contain other harmful chemicals like triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, diethanolamine, parabens, and plastic microbeads.

For a safer and more affordable option, consider making your own toothpaste at home. A basic recipe includes a few tablespoons of organic coconut oil and baking soda, a pinch of Himalayan salt, and a drop of peppermint essential oil for a clean, familiar flavor.

4. Watch out for hidden fluoride in food and drinks — Fluoride shows up in many processed foods and beverages that were made using fluoridated water. Tea leaves naturally absorb fluoride, too. If you’re a tea drinker, switch to white tea, which tends to have lower levels than black or green teas.

5. Get involved in your community — Engage in local water policy discussions and advocate for the removal of fluoride from community water supplies. Share credible research on fluoride’s neurotoxic effects with neighbors and local officials to raise awareness. More than 200 million Americans are still drinking fluoridated water without informed consent. Your voice can help change that.