Some U.S. water utilities are reporting that the Middle East war is disrupting their ability to maintain recommended fluoride levels in the drinking water. Israel is a major supplier of the chemical used to fluoridate drinking water. The number of water utilities affected so far is small, but the shortage is affecting hundreds of thousands of people. The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies says it expects additional shortages as the war stresses the supply chain. Dentists say a short-term drop in fluoride levels should be fine for most people, but longer-term disruptions could put Americans, especially young children, at higher risk for tooth decay.
