Which part here exactly cannot work in the US? I am talking about brushing one's teeth with toothpaste containing fluoride, which sounds as plain simple as possible to me. Is it regular brushing teeth that fails in the US for cultural reasons? Fluoride in the toothpaste? Supervising kids while brushing their teeth to make sure they do not swallow? It is an honest question.
In a word: poverty. People do not have free dental care, and poor people aren't guaranteed to have a toothbrush, toothpaste or sometimes even a sink to brush their teeth in. Fluoridated water is one of the few dental protections available to everyone regardless of their income. It's cheap, minimal and cost-effective cavity protection at scale for the entire country.
> poor people aren't guaranteed to have a toothbrush, toothpaste
There is no person in the world who cannot have a toothbrush and toothpaste if they want to. And if you find one such person, they won't have access to any centrally treated water.
Assuming the "less cynical explanation" you're referring to was my original response talking about the cultural and scale differences between America and most countries, that was not in reference to fluoride or dental care. I was specifically referring to the OP's assertion that "American exceptionalism" is the reason that America doesn't just copy things like universal healthcare and gun control policies from other countries.
I'm not sure what you're getting at here, I think we may have lost the plot. Are you simply implying that you find the cynical answer more appealing and believable than the non-cynical answer? In my opinion, the internet and today's modern zeitgeist has instilled a sense in everyone that if it's cynical, or dark, or depressing, it must be the correct answer. That's usually the laziest and easiest answer too.
