FDA moves to ban fluoride preparations for children and to remove an important tool for dentists: recordings

Dentists sometimes prescribe fluoride preparations in areas where water fluoridation is missing. The FDA take measures to remove such treatments from the market.

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Under the leadership of the Minister of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration tries to remove prescription fluoride supplements for children from the market.

These are fluoride tablets, drops or sucking, which are recommended for children who do not receive fluoridated water to avoid cavities.

The Announcement Tuesday by the FDA Claims that the absorbed fluoride changes the human microbiome in a worrying way, although research It quoted Is not conclusive. It contradicts years of research and best practices from professional medical groups.

“The best way to prevent cavities in children is to avoid excessive sugar intake and good tooth hygiene, not by changing a child’s microbiome,” said the FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary in the FDA declaration, in which the campaign was announced. “When it comes to children, we should be wrong on the side of security.”

According to the announcement, the FDA plans to carry out a security check and take “suitable measures” in order to remove these products from the market by October 31. HHS also plans to “issue best practices for dental hygiene in children who are feasible, effective and do not change intestinal health”.

Remove ‘a choice’ for medical providers

The step contradicts recommendations from the Centers for the control and prevention of diseases And Us -Task Force of US prevention servicesTogether with professional medical associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association.

All high doses recommend fluoride preparations for a limited cohort – children who live in areas without fluoridated water. In addition, the professional medical groups should indicate that their use should be limited to those who get a high risk of cavities. The fluoride waste and tablets can only be obtained by a recipe for a dentist or pediatrician.

“This eliminates a choice,” says Dr. Paul CasamassimaChief Policy Officer of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, “[It would] Prohibit treatment that is in the best interest of a patient, as determined by a trained, licensed medical specialist. “

Fluoride preparations are not recommended for most children because most US communities offer fluoridated drinking water. According to CDC.

Kennedy, however, has it Directed the CDC In order to revise his recommendations for the fluoridation of water in the community, to blame the practice – and fluoride in general – for a number of health problems, although Damage was not found On the recommended levels. Although a high fluoride level torches toothPresent Or discolorationPresent And can be connected to a lower IQ, low fluoride values ​​are generally considered safe and decisive to prevent cavities.

This latest action, combined with one Wave of moves to state legislators Ban fluoride From the water systems “is very serious for oral health,” says Casamassima. “It removes one of the tools with which we as a clinician can crumble the tooth.”

It is as if there is an illness and it provides medicine to stop them – but they are not allowed to prescribe clinicians, he says.

Unfounded intestinal damage claims

The FDA announcement Allegations: “The fluoride recorded has shown that they change the intestinal microbioma, which is of great concern in view of the early development of the intestinal microbioma in childhood.”

While the two Literature reviews What it quotes Find it probably This exposure to fluoride influences the microbioma, both find that the effect is uncertain and can even be positive with low doses.

The evidence “suggests that the use of fluoride contains the oral hygiene products One of the papersFrom researchers in Ireland.

The second paperFrom researchers in the UK found that high doses of fluoride can damage the microbioma, but low doses had either harmless or even positive effects. Both researchers stated that the evidence is limited and further studies are required.