I heard some guy on the radio the other night mock people with too much fluoride in their water; immediately thought of custard
of course - RFK wants to ban it - it's an "Industrial waste"
There aren't really any great documented hazards with fluoridated water - you don't want to gargle with straight fluoride and I have stains on my teeth from swallowing the toothpaste as a kid (there is a lot more fluoride in toothpaste than in municipal fluoridated water). But there are direct lines from tooth decay to all sorts of negative outcomes as you progress in life. Wealthier people who can afford toothpaste (yes, not being able to buy toothpaste is a thing and it's a common thing that low income service providers appreciate donations for) and regular dental checkups probably don't even need fluoridated water. We are on a well and considered giving our son fluoride tablets - but the dentist said for us it probably didn't matter since we monitored his brushing of teeth and got him to the dentist on the regular, sealed his molars etc.., but get him to drink a glass or two at school or in town.
But there are clear correlations in dental decay among low income populations between similar communities with and without fluoridated water.