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US President Donald Trump’s administration has introduced plans to withdraw prescription fluoride medicine for kids, a part of a rising motion reexamining public publicity to fluoride.
Fluoride is added to faucet water in nations together with america to stop tooth decay, and is present in toothpaste and mouthwash.
Dietary supplements within the type of drops and tablets may also be prescribed to youngsters at excessive threat of tooth decay or dwelling in areas the place water has a low fluoride focus.
However controversy has grown across the mineral’s potential neurotoxic results, whereas new US Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has lengthy been a vocal critic of fluoridated water.
“The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that it is initiating action to remove concentrated ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the market,” the Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.
“Unlike toothpaste with fluoride or fluoride rinses, these products are swallowed and ingested by infants and toddlers. They have also never been approved by the FDA.”
The assertion pointed to research suggesting a hyperlink between the mineral and thyroid problems, weight acquire and a decrease IQ, and mentioned that ingested fluoride “has been shown to alter the gut microbiome.”
HHS mentioned it aimed to finish a security assessment by October 31.
Fluoride was first launched to US water methods in 1945, dramatically decreasing childhood cavities and grownup tooth loss, and fluoridated water at present reaches an estimated 200 million People—about two-thirds of the inhabitants.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention hails it as one of many prime public well being achievements of the twentieth century.
However final 12 months, HHS underneath former president Joe Biden concluded with “moderate confidence” that increased ranges of fluoride are linked to decrease IQ scores.
In January, a paper within the prestigious journal JAMA Pediatrics, authored by the identical authorities scientists, discovered a “statistically significant association” between fluoride publicity and diminished IQ. Nevertheless, it left open key questions on what dosage ranges could also be dangerous.
In March, the US state of Utah turned the primary to ban fluoridation of its public ingesting water.
“Several states have taken action to stop fluoridation of drinking water, and fluoride is not added to drinking water in most of Europe or other countries of the world,” the HHS assertion added.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Affiliation warned the transfer would significantly influence US residents with restricted entry to dental care.
“Fluoride and regular dental hygiene visits remain essential components of comprehensive cavity prevention, especially for those who lack resources for routine dental care,” ADHA president Erin Haley-Hitz mentioned in an announcement.
“We urge policymakers to consider the profound impact these decisions have on the oral health of the American people.”
© 2025 AFP
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US to withdraw prescription fluoride for kids (2025, Might 14)
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