SALT LAKE CITY, Utah: Utah may become the first state to ban fluoride in public water under a new bill that prevents cities from deciding whether to add it.

Supporters of the bill say fluoride is too expensive, while opponents argue it is the cheapest way to prevent tooth decay for many people. The bill passed the state legislature late last week and is now waiting for Governor Spencer Cox's decision. It is unclear if he will sign it.

Some cities in the U.S. have already stopped adding fluoride to their water, and others are considering it. Recently, a federal judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate fluoride levels, as too much could affect children's brain development.

Utah ranks low in the U.S. for fluoridated water, with only 40 percent of residents receiving it. In 2023, voters in Brigham City decided to keep fluoride in their water. Out of 484 water systems in Utah, only 66 still add fluoride, including Salt Lake City, the largest in the state.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and prevents cavities, according to the CDC. Nearly two-thirds of Americans drink fluoridated water. Some believe the push to remove it is gaining momentum because of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s skepticism about fluoridation.

The Utah Dental Association opposes the bill, saying fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, especially in low-income communities. A longtime dentist in a non-fluoridated area said he could always tell which patients grew up without fluoride because they had more cavities.