this post was submitted on 14 May 2025
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176
Fluoride drops and tablets for kids should be taken off the market, FDA says (www.nbcnews.com)
submitted 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) by DrunkEngineer@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world
44 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced it will begin the process of pulling prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children off the market. The supplements are usually given to kids at high risk for cavities.

The federal government and some state legislatures are increasingly drawing attention to what they claim are the risks associated with fluoride, a mineral that’s been used for decades in community water systems, toothpastes and mouth rinses to prevent tooth decay.

Dentists fiercely contest the notion that the harms of fluoride outweigh the benefits.

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[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 109 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (3 children)

This is even more nuts than removing fluoride from municipal water systems. At least with that, parents who believe the science that their kids' teeth will be better off with targeted fluoride treatment can buy the drops and tablets, and those who are afraid for some reason can choose to just not use it.

This is just trying to ban access to fluoride entirely, despite research showing its benefits and the distinct lack of significant harm. Madness.

What next, are they going to criminalize sending fluoride drops/pills through the mail, like mifepristone?

Calgary, AB Canada removed fluoride and a decade later added it back after seeing the effects of its absence.

[–] minnow@lemmy.world 33 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

This is just trying to ban access to fluoride entirely

Well yeah. These are extremists, absolutists, radicals. Their dogma must be simple and without exceptions. If they admit even one scenario where fluoride has more benefits than deficits, their whole ideology and worldview crumbles. Nuance is an existential threat.

[–] Eximius@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

Narcissism as a fascist dictatorship of a whole country.

[–] chaosCruiser@futurology.today 7 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

You could make a great movie about the fluoride prohibition of the 2020s.

[Opening shot: A dark, rain-slicked cityscape. Neon signs flicker. A child’s toothbrush lies abandoned in a puddle.]

Narrator (gravelly voice): In a world where fluoride is forbidden…

[Cut to a sleek black SUV speeding through a checkpoint. Inside, a woman in a lab coat loads a capsule into a hidden compartment behind a false toothpaste tube.]

Narrator: …one syndicate dares to keep the smiles alive.

[Cue dramatic music. A warehouse door slams open. Inside: crates of fluoride tablets, glowing faintly blue. Armed guards in dental scrubs patrol the perimeter.]

Agent Plaque (sternly): “They’re dosing kids in back-alley clinics. We need to shut them down—permanently.”

[Montage: high-speed chases through suburban cul-de-sacs, a drone crashing into a jungle gym, a slow-motion shot of a fluoride pill flying through the air and landing in a glass of water.]

The Molar (smirking): “You can take the fluoride out of the pharmacies… but you can’t take the sparkle out of the people.”

[Cue epic music drop. Explosions. A toothbrush sword fight. A child grinning with unnaturally white teeth.]

Narrator: This summer… the fight for dental freedom begins.

FLUORIDE WARS: THE SPARKLE SYNDICATE

Coming soon to a theater near you. Brush responsibly.

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 4 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

You could make a great movie about the fluoride prohibition

We already have one: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

collapsed inline media

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world -5 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

At least with that, parents who believe the science that their kids' teeth will be better off with targeted fluoride treatment can buy the drops and tablets

Explain to me the science of how swallowing fluoride protects teeth.

Fluoride toothpaste is the scientifically valid, topical application method.

[–] Lodespawn@aussie.zone 22 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Having fluoride in the water means that you are constantly maintaining a level of fluoride in your saliva which then integrates with the surface layer of your teeth throughout the day as you drink water. If you limit it to just toothpaste then that function only occurs for the small amount of time following brushing your teeth.

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

I do not assert that merely swallowing water with fluoride offers any benefit to do with dental health.

It should be obvious that the act of directly swallowing water containing fluoride would give the water little to no opportunity to interact with one's teeth, which would be required for the intended preventative effect.

This is very similar to the decision by most nations to put low base levels of iodine in table salt. Given peoples' daily habits and diet, it was determined to be a safe and reliable way of ensuring exposure to a needed substance for general health. Not everyone has or will have the discipline to apply fluoridated paste to their teeth regularly (hell, many people don't even brush their teeth regularly!). Nor would many people take steps to ensure they had a recommended dose of iodine if they had to think about it, rather than just getting it through their daily meal ...

It should be clear to anyone that it's the incidental daily, weekly, monthly, yearly cumulative effect of fluoridated water, even in the brief interval before it is swallowed, swishing in the mouth and in direct contact with teeth, that can be of benefit.

Explain to me the science of how municipal fluoridation causes health issues so severe that it should be discontinued.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 0 points 29 minutes ago (1 children)

Explain to me the science of how municipal fluoridation

I've never mentioned anything about municipal fluoridation. You are reacting in a knee jersey fashion to the word fluoride.

I'm saying there is no point buying fluoride tablets for personal/household use because it's much better to enforce use of fluoride toothpaste. There is no reason for the tablets to be on general sale.

[–] Robust_Mirror@aussie.zone 3 points 21 minutes ago (1 children)

I see you haven't interacted with many kids with special needs. Not everything in life can be easily "enforced" for everyone.

Also watch them ban fluoride toothpaste next.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 1 points 17 minutes ago (1 children)

Sure. Niche cases exist. Prescriptions are still fine.

But the average person should not be adding flouride to their water. They should brushing their teeth.

watch them ban fluoride toothpaste next.

That would be indefensible.

[–] Robust_Mirror@aussie.zone 1 points 3 minutes ago* (last edited 1 minute ago)

Do you really believe they will have fluoride prescriptions?

Edit: from the article: will begin the process of pulling prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children off the market.

[–] kescusay@lemmy.world 72 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

RFK Jr. strikes again. I'll never understand why people like him can't grasp the idea that the difference between medicine and poison is often dosage.

The amount of fluoride in these tablets is nowhere near unsafe levels. It's not even close.

[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 44 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

He literally doesn't believe in germ theory.

And I don't mean 'literally' as in 'figuratively'. He genuinely doesn't believe in the most basic element of modern health and medicine.

You can't expect him to then grasp something as nuanced as dosage.

[–] alaphic@lemmy.world 30 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Dude took his grandkids swimming in a sewage infested waterway... I mean, you expect someone like that to have even the loosest grasp of anything resembling nuance?

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 17 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

I really hope an amoeba finishes what the worm started.

[–] PillBugTheGreat@lemmy.world 6 points 6 hours ago

Water isn't warm enough for them yet

[–] alaphic@lemmy.world 5 points 4 hours ago

That poor worm clearly starved to death

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 17 minutes ago

Because understanding that would mean his heroin addiction was his own fault, not the heroin's fault.

[–] andros_rex@lemmy.world 16 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

So - this started as a John Bircher thing right?

I’ve just been befuddled at the purpose and the point of this conspiracy theory. I guess Alex Jones’s dad is a dentist (and a Bircher) but I doubt that dentists conspire for us to have bad teeth.

Just generic “I don’t like the gubmit”? Was it a Jewish person who suggested that we improve dental health on a population level? What’s the initial bit of skin or hair that this stupid booger coalesced around?

I guess these weirdos have always been around. We just didn’t put them in charge of health.

[–] renzev@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

I doubt that dentists conspire for us to have bad teeth.

People with bad teeth is literally their main revenue stream?! I wouldn't put it past them.

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 6 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

if you visit any of the reviews of FLOURIDE-free toothpaste, you can tell at least some of them have reported cavaties.

[–] renzev@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

I once tried brushing my teeth with baking soda instead of toothpaste for a few weeks. From what I understand, they have about the same level of abrasiveness, so they should be about as good at scrubbing the gunk out of your teeth. The key difference is that toothpaste has fluoride in it. After a while I started having pain/irritation in my mouth and gums. It went away when I went back to toothpaste. So if anyone was looking for anecdotal evidence of fluoride being good for your teeth, there you go.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 14 minutes ago

I brush with Nano-hydroxyapitite for like 3 weeks and then do flouride for a couple weeks. I don't think results happen that quickly.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world -5 points 3 hours ago

This is anecdotal evidence of baking soda bad and flouride indifferent.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 4 points 5 hours ago

They try to make Americans weak, sick, and dead on all fronts. As of the US government was under control of a hostile country.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 3 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

Oh, cute.

I commented before that one can get 5 gallon bottled fluoridated water, and would like to again point that out. The fluoride may not be as concentrated as in these prescription-level things, but it's available. Can throw it on a water cooler.

Brick-and-mortar pickup:

https://www.arrowheadwater.com/products/where-to-buy

Delivery:

https://www.readyrefresh.com/en/products/arrowhead-spring-water-delivery/arrowhead-5-gallon-water-with-fluoride/p/1311

It looks like there are also some other brands, like Ozarka, but Arrowhead's what I've used.

[–] M1ch431@slrpnk.net 0 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (2 children)

Why do that when you can get prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste from your dentist if you are concerned about your teeth? Your dentist will be able to tell if you need it or not. You could also look into varnishes and having custom trays made for your teeth that you leave in overnight to remineralize.

Even regular OTC toothpaste is sufficient with proper application, a proper oral care regiment, and regular interventions from the dentist (e.g. cleanings every 6 months).

Fluoride's remineralization benefits are topical. Brush, spit excess, and leave toothpaste on 30 minutes before rinsing. Do not drink or eat anything during that period.

Brush as directed, but at least two times a day. Proper flossing is critical as well. Do not leave acids on your teeth without rinsing with water and do not let plaque develop and stay on your teeth for extended periods, otherwise it hardens into tartar and can't be removed at home.

Obviously certain foods are better for your teeth than others. Grazing/snacking habits can potentially harm your teeth as well. Xylitol mints are a good thing to have during periods where you can't brush. I suggest rinsing with water after consuming food, and especially rinsing after consuming acidic or sugary drinks, no matter where you are.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

Because children have teeth that aren't exposed to topical fluoride.

Their future adult teeth, growing under their gums, in their jaws.

The only way to build them strong is from the inside out, by getting fluoride into the children's systems.

[–] M1ch431@slrpnk.net 2 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

The human body is able to produce strong teeth and enamel unassisted, our diets and habits do the damage. The body is unable to repair the damaged enamel without topical solutions.

If you have a young child where topical fluoride is unadvised, consider nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste, especially if they know how to spit out. I like Fygg's brand, it's made by dentists and the studies are promising. nano-HAp remineralization is less resistant to acid, so please consider fluoride as soon as possible.

As always, consult with a dentist and get their advice before doing anything with your children's teeth — including having regular check-ups with them.

Maintaining systemic fluoride during development does seem attractive to develop tooth structure that is more resistant to acid throughout. However, I believe establishing and maintaining consistent care with dentists and developing solid oral health routines and diet practices, as early in life as possible, are all necessary steps to take and are more than sufficient.

Enamel damage and tooth decay doesn't magically happen, and education lasts for a lifetime.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Calcium makes teeth strong. Fluoride prevents cavities.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Because young children have teeth that aren't exposed to topical fluoride.

Their future adult teeth, growing under their gums, in their jaws.

The only way to build them strong is from the inside out, by getting fluoride into the children's systems.