FDA is to ban fluorides supplements for children, which removes an important tool for dentists

Under the leadership of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Want to remove the Food and Drug Administration prescriptions for children from the market.

These are fluoride tablets, drops or mop tablets that are recommended for children who do not receive a fluoridated water to prevent cavities.

The Announcement Tuesday of the FDA claims that taken fluoride changes human microbiome in a relevant way, although also, although research it quotes Is not convincing. It is in contradiction with years of research and best practices that have been established by professional medical groups.

“The best way to prevent cavities in children is to avoid excessive sugar intake and good dental hygiene, not by changing a child’s microbiome,” said FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, in the FDA statement that announced the promotion. “When it comes to children, we have to make the side of safety mistaken.”

According to the announcement, the FDA is planning to carry out a safety assessment and to take “appropriate action” to remove these products from the market by 31 October. HHS is also planning to issue best practices for oral hygiene in children who are feasible, effective, effective and do not change intestinal health. “

Removing ‘a choice’ for medical care providers

The movement is in contradiction with recommendations of the Centers for disease control and prevention And Our Preventive Services Task ForceTogether with professional medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association.

They all recommend low doses of fluoride supplements for a limited cohort – children who live in areas without fluoridated water. Moreover, the professional medical groups specify the use of their use into a high risk of getting cavities. The fluoride drops and tablets can only be obtained through a recipe from a dentist or pediatrician.

“This removes a choice,” says Dr. Paul CasamassimoChief Policy Officer for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, “[It would] Prohibit treatment that is in the best interest of a patient, as determined by a trained, recognized health star. “

Fluorides supplements are not recommended for most children because most American communities offer fluoridated drinking water, According to the CDC.

However, Kennedy has instructed the CDC to revise its recommendations for water fluoridation of the community, to blame the practice – and in general to take fluoride – for various health problems, although damage has not been found at the recommended levels. Although high levels of fluoride can cause dental motting” or discoloration“ And can be linked to a lower IQ, low fluoride are generally considered safe and key to prevent cavities.

This latest action, combined with a wave of movements by state laws to ban fluoride from water systems, “is very, very serious for oral health,” says Casamassimo. “It removes one of the tools that we as clinicians can use to stem tooth decay.”

It is as if there is a disease and there is a medicine available to stop – but clinicians are not allowed to prescribe it, he says.

Non -substantiated bowel damage claims

The FDA announcement Claims: “It has been shown that it has been taken that it is changing the intestinal microbiome, which is of enlarged concern given the early development of intestinal microbiome in childhood.”

While the two Literature reviews that quotes it probably think it’s This exposure to fluoride influences the microbiome, both believe that the effect is uncertain and can even be positive with low doses.

The proof “suggests that the use of fluoride that contains oral hygiene products can have beneficial effects on the oral microbiome with regard to caries prevention,” says one of the newspapersfrom researchers in Ireland.

The second paperResearchers in the UK showed that although high doses of fluoride can harm the microbiome, low doses had harmless or even positive effects. Both sets from researchers said that the evidence is limited and that more studies are needed.