Under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration is seeking to remove fluoride supplements targeting children from the market.

These are fluoride tablets, drops or intestinal tablets, suitable for children without fluorinated water to prevent cavity.

The FDA announcement Tuesday claimed that even if the research it cited is inconclusive, the fluoride ingestion is related to the human microbiome. It contradicts years of research and best practices established by professional medical groups.

"The best way to prevent a child cavity is to avoid excessive sugar intake and good dental hygiene," FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said in a FDA statement. "With children, we should make mistakes in safety."

According to the announcement, the FDA plans to conduct a security review and take "appropriate action" to remove these products from the market by October 31.

Delete the "select" of the medical provider

The move contradicts the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Preventive Services Task Force and the recommendations of professional medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association.

All of them recommend a limited cohort of low-dose fluoride supplements – living in areas without fluoride water. In addition, professional medical groups specify that their use should be limited to those at high risk of tooth decay. Fluoride drops and tablets can only be obtained through prescriptions from a dentist or pediatrician.

"This cancels the option," said Dr. Paul Casamassimo, chief policy officer of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

The CDC says that most children do not recommend fluoride supplements because most U.S. communities provide fluorinated drinking water.

However, Kennedy has directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to modify its recommendations on community water fluorination to address a range of health issues, even if no harm was found at the recommended level. Although high levels of fluoride can cause dental spots,,,,, Or change color,,,,, And may be related to lower IQ, low levels of fluoride are generally considered safe and key to preventing cavity.

Casamasimo said the latest move, coupled with a wave of moves by the state legislature to ban the fluoride system, is “very, very serious for oral health.” “It removes a tool we as clinicians can use to stop tooth decay.”

He said there seems to be a disease, there is a drug that can stop it - but clinicians are not allowed to prescribe it.

Unestablished gut injury claims

"The intake of fluoride has been shown to alter the gut microbiome, which is a magnified focus given the early development of the gut microbiome in childhood," the FDA announcement claimed.

Although the two literature reviews it cited found that exposure to fluoride could affect the microbiome, both found uncertain effects and could even be positive at low doses.

One of the papers says, “Evidence suggests that the use of fluoride containing oral hygiene products may have a beneficial effect on the oral microbiome that prevents tooth decay”, one of which comes from researchers in Ireland.

A second paper from UK researchers found that while high doses of fluoride may damage the microbiome, low doses of harmless or even positive effects are. Both groups of researchers said the evidence was limited and more research was needed.