Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has gone after fluoride in drinking water, a move that medical experts widely disagree with. Water fluoridation has been proven to be so effective at preventing tooth decay that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named it one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, a time during which Americans’ life expectancies rose by 30 years. “Fluoride has been studied extensively for decades and is considered safe and effective at recommended levels,” cosmetic dentist Dr. James Heaton tells USA TODAY. “While some debates focus on the ethics of water fluoridation or potential health concerns, the overwhelming consensus from the American Dental Association, CDC and World Health Organization is that fluoride is a critical tool in preventing tooth decay.” Here’s what licensed medical experts want you to know about fluoride.

Other fluoride news:

• The Washington Post: 5 things to know about fluoride and dental health
• The Washington Post: Opinion: On fluoride, RFK Jr. actually has a point
• Water Finance and Management: Utah bans addition of fluoride to drinking water