Tooth decay can begin very early in a child's life. If five states ban fluoride in drinking water, the costs to Medicaid for a significant increase in kids with cavities could top $40 million within three years, a new analysis finds.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) -- There's no link between fluoridated water and lower birth weights for newborns, a large-scale U.