It was in 1945 that public water systems began adding fluoride to drinking water because it supposedly prevented cavities. By 1980, half of the American population was consuming fluoridated water.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services—wants to change that.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Fluoride is a chemical ion of fluorine, which is the 13th most common element in the earth's crust. It is naturally found in almost all soil and water and many rocks. It is released into the environment when rocks or soil containing fluoride are dissolved by water. It can also be released from volcanic emissions or through man-made processes.

Fluoride combines with outer enamel tooth layers, preventing cavities by making teeth stronger and more resistant to decay. Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities. Many communities add a small amount of fluoride to the water supply to prevent cavities and promote good oral health.

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that community water systems add fluoride to drinking water.

But according to RFK: "Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease." He maintains that the Trump administration will advise all U.S?. water systems to remove fluoride from drinking water.