Ryan Knutson

Sounds like a lot of people are clenching their teeth over this.

Sounds like a lot of people are clenching their teeth over this.

Sounds like a lot of people are clenching their teeth over this.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Friday, April 4th. Coming up on the show, the fight over fluoride in America's water. Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in some water sources and can be found in certain foods.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Friday, April 4th. Coming up on the show, the fight over fluoride in America's water. Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in some water sources and can be found in certain foods.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Friday, April 4th. Coming up on the show, the fight over fluoride in America's water. Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in some water sources and can be found in certain foods.

The history of fluoride science in the U.S. dates all the way back to 1901, when a dentist in Colorado Springs started to study what he called Colorado brown stain.

The history of fluoride science in the U.S. dates all the way back to 1901, when a dentist in Colorado Springs started to study what he called Colorado brown stain.

The history of fluoride science in the U.S. dates all the way back to 1901, when a dentist in Colorado Springs started to study what he called Colorado brown stain.

the dentist realized that people who had this brown stain from too much fluoride were also less likely to have cavities. Over the next few decades, other studies backed up those findings. And in 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city in the country to add fluoride to its water supply.

the dentist realized that people who had this brown stain from too much fluoride were also less likely to have cavities. Over the next few decades, other studies backed up those findings. And in 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city in the country to add fluoride to its water supply.

the dentist realized that people who had this brown stain from too much fluoride were also less likely to have cavities. Over the next few decades, other studies backed up those findings. And in 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city in the country to add fluoride to its water supply.

Not with so much fluoride that it would cause those brown stains, but with just enough to reduce cavities. Why did people feel like it was needed back then?

Not with so much fluoride that it would cause those brown stains, but with just enough to reduce cavities. Why did people feel like it was needed back then?

Not with so much fluoride that it would cause those brown stains, but with just enough to reduce cavities. Why did people feel like it was needed back then?

By the 1950s, companies started putting fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. Crest introduced its first fluoride toothpaste in 1956.

By the 1950s, companies started putting fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. Crest introduced its first fluoride toothpaste in 1956.

By the 1950s, companies started putting fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. Crest introduced its first fluoride toothpaste in 1956.

And early research seemed to say that fluoride, when it was put in water and available broadly, was something like a miracle defense against cavities, especially when it came to lower-income children who often didn't have regular access to dental care.

And early research seemed to say that fluoride, when it was put in water and available broadly, was something like a miracle defense against cavities, especially when it came to lower-income children who often didn't have regular access to dental care.