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The Food and Drug Administration moved Friday to limit the use of fluoride supplements used to strengthen children’s teeth, the latest action by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his representatives against a chemical that is a mainstay of dental care.
fda That said the products are no longer recommended for children under 3 and those who are older but do not face serious risk of tooth decay. Previously, the products were prescribed for children under six months of age.
The action halted in May after an FDA statement that suggested regulators would seek to remove the products from the market. Instead, the agency sent letters to the four companies warning them not to market their products outside the new limits.
Fluoride tablets and lozenges are sometimes recommended for children and teens who are at increased risk of tooth decay or cavities due to low levels of fluoride in their local drinking water. Companies also sell drops for infants.
The FDA released a new scientific analysis Friday concluding that fluoride supplements have limited benefits for children’s teeth and may be linked to emerging safety concerns, including gut problems, weight gain and cognition.
“For the same reason fluoride may work to kill bacteria on teeth, it may also alter the gut microbiome, which may have broader health implications,” the agency said in a statement.
The agency also sent a form letter to dentists and other health providers warning them about the risks of the products.
Those claims have been refuted by the American Dental Association, which has stated that there are no significant health problems associated with fluoride when used at levels prescribed by dentists. Supplements may cause stains or discoloration on teeth due to excess fluoride, a downside the FDA also notes.
dentists warned that restricting fluoride supplements could lead to more cavities and dental problems in rural communities, which are less likely to have fluoridated water. Kennedy is also calling for an end to the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water across the United States
According to the , fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionIn 1962, the agency set guidelines for how much water should be added to water.
Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has called fluoride a “dangerous neurotoxin” linked to numerous health hazards.
The FDA regulates most dental products, including toothpastes, supplements, mouthwashes, and rinses that contain fluoride. The agency’s actions do not affect toothpastes, mouthwashes or fluoride treatments used by adults or offered in dentists’ offices.
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