Recent comments by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about fluoride raises questions about its safety and why it is used in drinking water.
Kennedy, the former presidential candidate is a longtime Trump supporter showing an anti-vaccine viewsaid on social media that Donald Trump will push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office if elected president. Trump previously proposed putting Kennedy in charge of health initiatives.
On Sunday, Trump told NBC News that he had not spoken to Kennedy about fluoride, “but it’s fine with me. You know it works.”
In a post on social media, Kennedy claimed fluoride was linked to many health problems.
Why fear fluoride? Here’s what you need to know.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen teeth and reduce tooth decay cavitiesaccording to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does this by repairing and preventing damage to the teeth caused by bacteria in the mouth that produce acid, which in turn dissolves the minerals on the surface of the tooth and can even lead to tooth loss.
Tooth decay itself can be painful and expensive to treat but left untreated can lead to other problems, including infection and abscesses or even sepsis, according to the World Health Organization.
Some research also links poor oral health to other complications such as cardiovascular disease due to inflammation and infection.
This is why experts urge prevention is the best way to maintain your dental (and overall) health.
Why fluoride is in water and its health benefits
“Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities,” the CDC website notes.
In 1950, federal officials approved water fluoridation — adding small amounts of fluoride to water supplies — to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can come from several sources, including most brands of toothpaste, but researchers say drinking water is the main source for Americans.
“Studies continue to show that widespread community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, both for families and the health care system,” the CDC said, noting that this measure has reduced tooth decay in children and adults by approximately 25%.
Dr. Naomi Levy Goldman, cosmetic and restorative dentist and owner of Levy Goldman Dentistry, told CBS News that, at recommended levels, studies have shown drinking fluoridated water “is beneficial in preventing dental decay, especially in the first three years of life when primary teeth and permanently still evolving.”
“Studies also show that consuming fluoridated water at current recommended levels does not cause neurotoxicity or other adverse effects,” he said.
Is fluoride in drinking water safe?
The recommended concentration of fluoride in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, which is roughly equivalent to 3 drops in a 55-gallon bucket, according to the CDC.
In 2015, officials lowered recommendations for drinking water fluoride levels to address fluorosis, a condition that can cause discoloration of teeth.
“The severity of white spots (or enamel fluorosis) seems to increase with higher fluoride concentrations,” says Levy Goldman. “One study noted that about 12% of people will have some level of flourosis of the enamel from drinking water fluoridated at 1ppm.”
Overall, the addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water is considered by health officials to be one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
“Seventy years of research, thousands of studies and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that water fluoridation is effective in preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults,” according to the American Dental Association.
But it hasn’t been without controversy.
Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health’s toxicology program determined “with moderate confidence” that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. The federal agency based its conclusions on studies involving fluoride levels about twice the recommended limit for drinking water.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has questioned the validity of the NIH report, saying other reviews have come to different conclusions about the risks and benefits of fluoride. The AAP is one group of experts that continues to recommend the use of fluoride toothpaste, in combination with fluoride water, to protect teeth from cavities.
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen later cited the NIH study on the order of the officer to better manage fluoride in drinking water.
While the judge was careful to state that his decision “does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water poses a risk to public health,” he said the current evidence of potential risks is sufficient to warrant forcing the Environmental Protection Agency to act.
Critics cite the near-universal adoption of fluoride toothpaste and other dental products as evidence that the chemical should not be added to drinking water. Other countries abroad have reduced cavity rates without adding to the water supply, he said.
The CDC says ongoing water fluoridation is still “the most cost-effective way to deliver fluoride to all members of society regardless of age, educational attainment, or income level.”
CBS News has reached out to the American Dental Association for comment.
Alexander Tin and
contributed to this report.
