Despite decades of evidence that fluoride prevents cavities, the agency said the best way to keep kids' teeth strong is to stop eating so much sugar.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced it will begin the process of pulling prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children off the market. The supplements are usually given to kids at high risk for cavities.

The federal government and some state legislatures are increasingly drawing attention to what they claim are the risks associated with fluoride, a mineral that’s been used for decades in community water systems, toothpastes and mouth rinses to prevent tooth decay.

Dentists fiercely contest the notion that the harms of fluoride outweigh the benefits.

  • Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world
    0·
    20 days ago

    multiple studies have shown that increased flouride in drinking water decreases the number of caries in the populations teeth. Its not homeopathic, if it was you wouldn’t even be talking about it because the levels wouldnt be testable.

    You are repeating soundbites without engaging your brain. We are discussing the scientific merits of flouride tablets. Not the general water supply.

    It’s not the ingestion that matters, its having the appropriate level of fluoride in the thing you put in your mouth all day every day that keeps the levels up in your mouth so your teeth keep absorbing it.

    Exactly. If you care about yourself or kids having flouride, you brush your teeth with flouride toothpaste. Then you don’t need to swallow flouride in the hope that enough is excreted through the saliva.

    The benefits of improved population dental health far outweigh the public monetary cost of doing it

    Off topic. Think before you repeat.

    • Lodespawn@aussie.zoneEnglish
      0·
      20 days ago

      Luckily one of my friends has already been down the ridiculous path you’re travelling, so I’ve had the opportunity to spend quite a lot of time reading studies relating to this subject. I’m all good on the topic of water flouridation and dental hygiene thanks.

      The mechanism for preventing caries via fluoridated water is the same whether the water is treated by a municipality or treated at home. It is proven effective. Your tips on brushing are great, but they are only effective for the 2 to 3 half hour periods following that brushing. Fluoridated water prevents caries, that is a fact. So why rob yourself of a safety net for good dental hygiene?

      So as much as I ‘loved’ watching my friend descend into madness with anti fluoridation nonsense, I’ve had my fill. You asked for the scientific backed mechanism for how fluoridated water helps prevent caries, and I provided that. You clearly didn’t actually want that, so I’m done here. Have fun bud.

      • Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world
        0·
        20 days ago

        It is proven effective.

        In the absence of brushing. Topical application of fluoride via toothpaste and toothbrush is more effective and removes the need to personally add fluoride to water.

        Your tips on brushing are great, but they are only effective for the 2 to 3 half hour periods following that brushing.

        So brush after eating and don’t snack on sugary foods and drinks. Your teeth don’t need to be constantly bathed in fluoride.

        Fluoridated water prevents caries, that is a fact. So why rob yourself of a safety net for good dental hygiene?

        Because if you brush your teeth with flouride toothpaste you already have a safety net. You don’t need two safety nets.

        You asked for the scientific backed mechanism for how fluoridated water helps prevent caries, and I provided that.

        I asked how swallowing flouride helps teeth and got a ridiculous answer about how it returns in the saliva.

        If you brush with flouride toothpaste, you don’t need your own personal flouride supplements.