[bell-cot]

For non-ideological minerals - calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, etc. - there are fairly well-accepted ranges of "healthy" blood levels. And lists of undesirable side-effects, which too-low and too-high levels could cause. And plenty of medical conditions where an individual might be advised to aim for a lower or higher level. And ...

Vs. fluoride always seems to be a raging culture war.

Why?

[detaro]

In the US (and some other places) it's actively added to the water supply. "XYZ is doing things to our drinking water!" has always been a flash point for strong feelings, justified or not, and wild rumors, because its so fundamental and unavoidable. Combine with general skepticism against health intervention being fanned, boom.

[bell-cot]

> ...added to the water supply...has always been a flash point for...

Enriched flour, iodized salt, vitamin- & mineral-fortified children's breakfast cereals, pasteurized milk, etc., etc. seem to get vastly less angry push-back.

Even though (from a quick Google) there are loads of fluoride-removing water filters that anyone could purchase.

Vs. good luck if you want to de-enrich flour, or any product made from it.

Theory: Too many of the Well-Intended Scientists who were given the Fluoridate Public Water Supplies quest cards had used Charisma as their dump stat.