The US Food and Drug Administration says it is beginning a process of removing and dropping fluoride tablets from the market.
These products are usually prescribed to babies and children who are at high risk of cavities because they drink fluoride-free water. In Utah, for example, state health officials released guidance this month urging residents to learn more about fluoride supplements after the city’s water system was banned from adding minerals to water.
In a news release Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that ingested fluoride has been shown to alter the gut microbiota. Other studies point to the association between fluoride and thyroid disorders, weight gain and intelligence loss, the news release said. HHS said they have never officially approved by the FDA.
“The best way to prevent tooth decay in children is to avoid excessive sugar intake and good dental hygiene, rather than changing the child’s microbiome. Fluoride can kill tooth bacteria, which are important for the health of a child.
“I have directed the Drug Assessment and Research Center to assess evidence regarding the risk of systemic fluoride exposure from FDA-controlled pediatric ingestible fluoride prescription drugs.
The agency will complete the safety review and public comment period Regarding measures taken until October 31st.
Fluorides are minerals that can be found naturally in some foods and groundwater. It helps to prevent tooth decay by strengthening the protective outer layer of enamel, which can be worn by acids formed by bacteria, plaques and sugars in the mouth. Adding fluoride to public water systems began in the United States in 1945.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says drinking fluorinated water reduces children and adults by about 25%. However, the Trump administration is increasing scrutiny about the potential health effects of fluoride.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to roll back the CDC recommendations to add fluoride to municipal drinking water, and a panel of experts will review the guidelines and create new recommendations.
Kennedy cannot formally prevent the community from adding fluoride to drinking water, but some states and cities have already followed his lead. Utah recently banned the use of fluoride in drinking water, and Florida lawmakers have passed a similar ban. Other states are considering similar moves.
“The end of using ingestible fluorides has been postponed for a long time,” Kennedy said in a news release Tuesday. “I would like to thank Commissioner McCalley for their leadership on this important issue, which directly protects the health and development of children. This decision brings us one step closer to realizing President Trump’s promise to make America healthy again.”
In Utah, Dr. Stacey Bank, executive medical director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, told CNN last week that he was working hard to reveal what he said about fluoride supplements because water was no longer fluorinated. The state recently passed a law to allow pharmacists to provide oral fluoride without a prescription.
“The main message we’re trying to reach people is that they have to be proactive about getting fluoride, which is no longer passive to them. This is something they have to take on themselves through their healthcare providers, dentists and pharmacists,” Bank said.
Remove fluoride supplements from the market and you’ll still have topical options like fluorinated toothpaste and mouthwash that will help strengthen your teeth.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association support the use of fluoride to reduce tooth decay in children and adults.
“AAP recommends using the right amount of fluorinated toothpaste, fluoride crocodile streets for young children, and visiting dentists on their child’s first birthday as part of their daily oral hygiene,” the pediatrician said on its website.
“A rigorous review of fluoride safety has not consistently found any reliable evidence linking it to systemic or unfavourable health issues. AAP recommends using the right amount of fluorinated toothpaste, a fluoride crocodile street treatment for young children.