Overview

• The FDA announced plans to remove prescription fluoride tablets and drops for children, citing safety concerns about systemic exposure.
• Studies referenced by the FDA suggest ingested fluoride may alter gut microbiota, affect thyroid health, and lower IQ, though critics dispute these findings.
• The supplements, often prescribed in areas with low water fluoridation, have never received formal FDA approval despite decades of use.
• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called fluoride a neurotoxin and is leading efforts to end its use in public health measures, including water fluoridation.
• Major dental organizations, including the ADA and AAP, continue to support fluoride as a safe and effective tool for preventing cavities, warning of potential oral health disparities if access is reduced.