The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to remove ingestible prescription drugs for children that contain fluoride, the agency announced on May 13.
The ingestible products have been linked to issues such as a disrupted gut microbiome.
“The best way to prevent cavities in children is by avoiding excessive sugar intake and good dental hygiene, not by altering a child’s microbiome. For the same reason that fluoride may kill bacteria on teeth, it may also kill intestinal bacteria important for a child’s health,” Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the FDA, said in a statement.
Researchers reported in a review article in March that multiple studies have found that the gut microbiota was negatively impacted in people who ingested high amounts of fluoride, a disruption that can lead to problems such as cancer.
The FDA said it plans to complete a safety review by Oct. 31 before “taking appropriate action regarding removal of these products from the market.” At the same time, its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, is planning to provide the public with guidance on strong dental hygiene for children that does not alter gut health.
“Ending the use of ingestible fluoride is long overdue,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. “I’m grateful to Commissioner Makary for his leadership on this vital issue—one that directly safeguards the health and development of our children.”
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