The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is hosting a meeting on Wednesday, July 23, to gather feedback on the clinical use and safety concerns associated with prescription ingestible fluoride drops and tablets for infants and toddlers.
The meeting, which is being facilitated by the Reagan-Udall Foundation, follows the FDA’s announcement in May that it aims to remove orally ingestible unapproved products containing fluoride that are prescribed for children from the market.
The agency suggests that these ingestible fluoride products, which often are given to children at high risk of tooth decay, may alter the gut microbiome and possibly are associated with weight gain, thyroid disorders, and a decrease in IQ.
Those interested can make comments in person or virtually about the following topics:
- The clinical use and prescribing considerations for pediatric tooth decay prevention
- Safety concerns
- The appropriateness of pediatric use considering additional sources of exposure
- Impact of removal of orally ingestible unapproved prescription drug products/potential alternatives
Those interested in attending in person or virtually should visit the Reagan-Udall website to register.
In May, the FDA stated that it hoped to have its evaluation of these products concluded by October 31.
Along with this evaluation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., plans to release best practices for dental hygiene in children that are “feasible, effective and do not alter gut health,” according to the release.
Kennedy has promised to recommend ending water fluoridation since before President Donald Trump was reelected. Kennedy has claimed that the cavity-fighter fluoride is an “industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.”
In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would swiftly review new scientific data on the potential health risks associated with adding fluoride to public drinking water. The announcement was made during an event with Kennedy in which he also said he plans to direct the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoride's addition to public water systems while assembling a task force to discuss and act on the issue.
These aren’t the only movements against fluoride. Some states have already acted to end community water fluoridation.
In March, Utah signed a law banning fluoride in public drinking water, becoming the first state to take such a drastic measure. The law took effect on May 7. Also, Florida passed legislation to remove fluoride from public water, which takes effect on July 1. Pennsylvania became the most recent state to introduce similar legislation.
In September 2024, a U.S. judge in California issued a milestone decision that adding fluoride to public drinking water to help prevent tooth decay is risky to individuals, including children, who may face lowered IQs. Therefore, the practice requires government intervention.
