by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent comments about fluoride raise questions about its safety and why it is used in drinking water.
Kennedy, a former presidential candidate turned Trump supporter and has long been so shared anti-vaccine viewssaid on social media on Saturday that Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office if he were elected president. Trump has previously suggested he would put Kennedy in charge of health initiatives.
On Sunday, Trump told NBC News that he had not yet spoken to Kennedy about fluoride, “but it sounds good to me. You know it’s possible.”
In a social media post, Kennedy claimed that fluoride has been linked to a range of health problems.
Why the fear of fluoride? Here’s what you need to know.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen and reduce tooth decay holesaccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does this by repairing and preventing damage to teeth caused by bacteria in the mouth that produce acid, which in turn dissolves minerals in the tooth surface and can even lead to tooth loss.
Tooth decay itself can be painful and expensive to treat, but left untreated can cause further problems, including infections and abscesses or even sepsis, according to the World Health Organization.
Some studies have also linked poor oral health to other complications, such as cardiovascular disease due to inflammation and infections.
This is why Experts urge prevention as the best way to keep your dental (and overall) health in check.
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, which involves adding a small amount of fluoride to the water supply, to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can come from a number of sources, including most toothpaste brands, but researchers say drinking water is the most important source for Americans.
“Studies continue to show that widespread water fluoridation in the community prevents cavities and saves money for both families and health care systems,” the CDC says, noting that this move has reduced tooth decay in children and adults by about 25%.
Dr. Naomi Levy Goldman, cosmetic and restorative dentist and owner of Levy Goldman Dentistry, told CBS News that studies at recommended amounts have shown that drinking fluoridated water is “beneficial for preventing tooth decay, especially in the first three years of life, when the primary and permanent teeth are still developing.”
“Studies also show that consuming fluoridated water at current recommended levels should not cause neurotoxicity or other adverse effects,” she said.
Is fluoride in drinking water safe?
The recommended fluoride concentration in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, which is approximately equal to 3 drops in a 55-gallon drum, according to the CDC.
In 2015, officials lowered the recommendation for fluoride levels in drinking water to address fluorosis, a condition that can cause tooth discoloration.
“The severity of white spots (or enamel fluorosis) appears to increase with higher concentrations of fluoride,” said Levy Goldman. “One study found that about 12% of people would experience some degree of enamel fluorosis if they drank fluoridated water at 1 ppm.”
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 at preventing cavities and safe for children and adults,” according to the American Dental Association.
But it has not 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 conclusion on studies where fluoride levels were 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 reached different conclusions about the risks and benefits of fluoride. The AAP is among expert groups that continue to recommend the use of fluoride toothpaste, in combination with fluoridated water, to protect teeth from cavities.
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen later cited the NIH study when ordering officials to further regulate fluoride in drinking water.
While the judge was careful to say that his ruling “does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is harmful to public health,” he said the evidence of the potential risk was now sufficient to force the Environmental Protection Agency to take action.
Critics have cited the near-universal acceptance of fluoride toothpaste and other dental products as evidence that the chemical no longer needs to be added to drinking water. Other countries abroad have reduced the number of cavities without adding to their water supplies, they say.
The CDC has said that continued water fluoridation remains the “most cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to all community members, regardless of age, education, or income level.”
CBS News has contacted the American Dental Association for comment.
Alexander Tin and
contributed to this report.
