The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday said that it is aiming to remove prescription fluoride for children from the market because of their potential health risks.
The announcement marks an escalation of President Donald Trump's campaign against the cavity-fighting mineral. The agency argues that the long-prescribed pills are a potential health hazard to children.
FDA Looks To Ban Prescription Fluoride Tablets for Kids
The FDA set a deadline of Oct. 31, 2025, to complete a safety review of "concentrated ingestible fluoride prescription drug products" and take "appropriate action" to completely remove them from the market.
In a statement, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said that the best way to prevent cavities in kids is to avoid excessive sugar intake and maintain good dental hygiene. He added that fluoride, on top of killing bacteria on kids' teeth, can also kill intestinal bacteria that are considered important for their health.
A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official, who wished to remain anonymous, said the FDA will issue a letter to manufacturers. The agency will be asking them to first voluntarily remove fluoride products from the market themselves, according to the Washington Post.
On the other hand, the American Dental Association put up advice on its website, saying that fluoride supplements can be prescribed to children aged between six months and 16 years who are at risk of tooth decay and rely on drinking water with low concentrations of fluoride.
It noted that doses vary from 0.25 mg to 1 mg in a tablet or lozenge, adding that doctors and dentists are responsible for considering how much fluoride is in a patient's water before deciding what dose they prescribe.
Potential Health Risks
The situation comes as fluoride, which is a mineral that occurs naturally in water, has been added to community water supplies and dental products, such as toothpaste, for decades. But U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his disagreement, Reuters reported.
He said that he is opposed to adding the mineral to tap water, saying that U.S. fluoridation levels are linked to several health issues, including cancer, but did not provide evidence of his claims. He said, "Ending the use of ingestible fluoride is long overdue."
American Dental Hygienists' Association President Erin Haley-Hitz argued that there was no scientific evidence showing that fluoride at the recommended low levels affects the gut microbiota, despite the FDA's claims.
Utah became the first state in the nation to enact a ban on water fluoridation earlier this month. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also said that he would be signing legislation that would make his state the second in the country with such laws, as per MSN.
