The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving closer to a decision that could remove fluoride tablets and drops from the market—products commonly prescribed to children who lack access to fluoridated drinking water and are vulnerable to tooth decay.
On Wednesday, the agency will hold a public meeting to hear from both sides of the debate. While most dental professionals support the continued use of fluoride supplements, the FDA says over half of the session will focus on identifying safety concerns and potential health risks associated with these treatments.
A final decision is not expected until the end of October. In May, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced the agency’s plan to consider removing the supplements entirely.
Supporters and Critics to Present Views
The meeting will feature 18 speakers, including several well-known opponents of fluoride. Among them is Dr. Bill Osmonsun, a retired dentist affiliated with the Fluoride Action Network, and Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a public health professor at Simon Fraser University in Canada. Lanphear authored a 2019 study that found a slight reduction in IQ among children whose mothers consumed higher levels of fluoride during pregnancy. That study has been cited by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of fluoride.
Countering these claims will be experts such as Dr. Charlotte Lewis, a pediatrician at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Dr. Jayanth Kumar, the former dental director for California.
Dr. James Bekker, a pediatric dentist and member of the Utah Dental Association, is also scheduled to speak. He warned against removing the supplements without a viable replacement. “Say we take supplements off the market. What’s the alternative? There is none,” he said.
Some States Move to Limit Fluoride
Several U.S. states have already moved away from water fluoridation. Utah and Florida have banned the practice in public water systems, and similar proposals are under review in Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Nebraska.
Critics argue that the risks of fluoride exposure, particularly in early childhood, may outweigh its benefits in preventing tooth decay. Dental cavities, if left untreated, can lead to pain, infections, and other health issues.
Even Kennedy acknowledged the tradeoff in an interview with Fox News, saying that communities without fluoride in their water supply may experience “slightly more cavities.”
Dr. Bekker, however, expressed deeper concern about what could follow a ban. “Buckle up,” he said. “We’re going to have an onslaught of cavities.”
