FDA restricts use of kids’ fluoride supplements, citing emerging health risks
WASHINGTON– WASHINGTON (AP) — 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 deputies against a chemical that is a mainstay of dental care.
The FDA said the products are no longer recommended for children younger than 3 and those who are older but not at serious risk of tooth decay. Previously, the products were prescribed to children as young as six months old.
The action stopped ahead of FDA statements in May suggesting regulators would seek to remove the products from the market. Instead, the agency sent letters to four companies warning them not to market their products outside the new limits.
Fluoride tablets and lozenges are sometimes recommended for children and adolescents at increased risk of tooth decay or cavities due to low fluoride in their local drinking water. Companies also sell baby drops.
The FDA released a new scientific analysis Friday, concluding that fluoride supplements have limited benefits for children’s teeth and may be linked to new safety concerns, including intestinal problems, weight gain and cognitive impairment.
“For the same reason fluoride can kill bacteria on teeth, it can 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 care providers warning them of the products’ risks.
These claims have been disputed by the American Dental Association, which has stated that there are no significant health problems associated with fluoride when used at the levels prescribed by dentists. Supplements can cause teeth staining or discoloration due to excess fluoride, a drawback also noted by the FDA.
Dentists have 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 also seeks to end the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water throughout the United States.
Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost through normal wear and tear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1962, the agency established guidelines for how much to add to water.
Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, called fluoride a “dangerous neurotoxin” linked to a range of 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 those offered in dentists’ offices.
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