What you need to know about fluoride in water based on RFK Jr.’s health claims

Recent comments by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about fluoride raises questions about its safety and why it is used in drinking water.

Kennedy, the former presidential candidate has become a longtime Trump supporter shared anti-vaccination sentimentsaid on social media Saturday that Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office if elected president. Trump once suggested putting Kennedy in charge of health care.

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

In a post on social media, Kennedy said that fluoride is linked to many health problems.

Why fear fluoride? Here’s what you need to know.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen teeth and reduce tooth decay holesaccording to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does this by repairing and preventing tooth decay caused by bacteria in the mouth that produce acid, which dissolves the mineral on the surface of the tooth and can even cause the tooth to fall out.

Tooth decay itself can be painful and expensive to treat, but if left untreated, it can lead to further complications, including infection and scarring or even sepsis, according to the World Health Organization.

Other studies have also linked poor oral health to other problems such as cardiovascular disease due to inflammation and infection.

That’s why experts recommend prevention as the best way to keep your dental (and general) health in check.

Why fluoride is in water and its health benefits

“Nearly all water contains fluoride naturally, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities,” the CDC website says.

In 1950, government officials approved water fluoridation – adding small amounts of fluoride to the water supply – to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can come from many sources, including many brands of toothpaste, but researchers say drinking water is the main source for Americans.

“Studies continue to show that widespread public water supply prevents potholes and saves money, both for households and the health system,” the CDC says, noting that this measure has reduced corrosion. teeth in children and adults by about 25%.

Dr. Naomi Levy Goldman, a cosmetic and restorative dentist and owner of Levy Goldman Dentistry, told CBS News that, at recommended levels, studies have shown that drinking fluoridated water “is good for to prevent tooth decay, especially in the first three years of life. primary and permanent teeth are developing.”

“Studies also show that drinking fluoridated water at current recommended levels should not cause neurotoxicity or other adverse effects,” he said.

Is fluoride in drinking water safe?

The recommended concentration of fluoride in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, which is about 3 drops in a 55-gallon barrel, according to the CDC.

In 2015, authorities dropped the recommendation to drink fluoridated water to treat fluorosis, a condition that can cause tooth decay.

“The problem of white spots (or enamel fluorosis) seems to increase with higher fluoride concentrations,” Levy Goldman said. “One study found that about 12% of people will develop some level of enamel fluorosis from drinking water that is fluoridated at 1ppm.”

In general, the addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water is considered by health officials to be one of the greatest public health achievements of the past century.

“Seventy years of research, thousands of studies and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that water fluoridation is effective in preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults,” according to the American Dental Association.

But it did not go without controversy.

Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health’s toxicology program concluded “with moderate confidence” that there is a link between high levels of fluoride exposure and low IQ in children. The federal agency based its decision on studies that linked fluoride levels to about twice the recommended limit in drinking water.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has questioned the validity of the NIH report, saying other reviews have reached different conclusions about the risks and benefits of fluoride. The AAP is among the professional groups that continue to recommend using fluoride toothpaste, along with fluoridated water, to protect teeth from cavities.

US District Judge Edward Chen later cited the NIH study by ordering the authorities further control of fluoride in drinking water.

Although the judge was careful to say that his ruling “does not conclusively establish that fluoridated water is dangerous to public health,” he said that the evidence of potential harm they are now enough to warrant forcing the Environmental Protection Agency to take action.

Critics have cited the widespread acceptance of fluoride toothpaste and other dental products as evidence that the chemical no longer needs to be added to drinking water. Other countries abroad have lowered prices without adding to their water supply, they argue.

The CDC stated that continuous water fluoridation remains “the most cost-effective way to deliver fluoride to all members of the community regardless of age, educational attainment or income level.”

CBS News has reached out to the American Dental Association for comment.

Alexander Tin and

Associated Press

contributed to this report.