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

    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.