Pediatric dentist Dr. Kurt Christensen joined the GTU studio today to discuss children’s oral health in 2025 and the controversy surrounding fluoride.
Christensen, a pediatric dentist at Berg Children’s Dental Clinic in Murray, Utah, has been practicing for 25 years.
He noted that policy changes surrounding fluoride have been a focus this year. Utah became the first state to ban fluoridation in public water supplies.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a ban on any ingestible prescription fluoride in children’s dental products.
“It’s been a tough year for fluoride,” Christensen said. He added that the dental community has over 90 years of experience with fluoride, but there’s still confusion among the public about how individuals should consume it.
In response to studies cited by opponents, Christensen said those studies reveal health risks—such as effects on the thyroid, bone density, and intelligence—typically occur at levels far above known safe levels.
“They’ve cited cases where people were consuming 10 to 50 times the amount of fluoride we know is safe,” he emphasized.
Christensen believes the recent fluoride controversy serves as a reminder to parents that timely dental checkups and good oral hygiene are more effective in protecting children’s dental health than simply arguing about it.