Fluoride: What is it and why is it added to our drinking water?

The topic of fluoride in drinking water came up in the upcoming election after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said former President Donald Trump would push to get rid of the chemical on his first day in office if elected president.

Kennedy, a prominent advocate of public health claims, has been promised the reins of health initiatives by Trump.

Kennedy made the announcement on Saturday on social media platform X along with various claims about the effects of fluoride.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all US water utilities to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, “want to Make America Great Again,” he added, repeating a phrase that Trump often uses and links to Kennedy.

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Trump told NBC News on Sunday that he hadn’t talked to Kennedy about fluoride yet, “but it sounds good to me. You know it’s possible.”

What is fluoride?

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the past century.

History of fluoride in drinking water

In 1950, government officials approved water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and continued to promote it even after fluoride finger products hit the market a few years later.

Although fluoride can come from many sources, drinking water is the main source for Americans, researchers say.

How are fluoride levels controlled?

Officials lowered their recommendations for drinking fluoridated water in 2015 to address a dental problem called fluorosis, which can stain teeth and was becoming more common among children in the US.

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Since 1962, the government has recommended ranges from 0.7 milligrams per liter for warm climates to 1.2 milligrams in cooler climates. The new standard is 0.7 everywhere.

Health risks of fluoride

In August, a government agency concluded “with moderate confidence” that there is a link between high levels of fluoride exposure and low IQ in children. The National Toxicology Program based its decision on studies that implicated fluoride levels at about twice the recommended limit for drinking water.

A federal judge later cited that study to order the US Environmental Protection Agency to continue regulating fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it is not certain that the amount of fluoride commonly added to water causes lower IQ in children, but he concluded that a growing body of research points to an unreasonable risk. which may exist. He ordered the EPA to take steps to reduce the risk, but did not say what those steps should be.

To reduce fluoride for young children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this advice: Do not use fluoride toothpaste for children under 2 years of age unless recommended by a dentist; Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for children ages 2 to 6, and avoid fluoride mouthwashes.