Taking Fluoride Medications for Kids Off the Market: A Healthy Shift? 🧯🦒
Government to withdraw fluoride-containing medications for child use from market - U.S. Administration Decides to Withdraw Fluoride Supplements for Children from Market
Here's a twist for the parents out there: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is getting rid of those prescription fluoride medications meant for kiddos. Unlike fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes, these meds little ones end up swallowing them. You read that right, these products never got the FDA's green light.
Health Minister Robert Kennedy Jr. is thrilled about this move. In fact, he's made cracking down on fluoride a major focus. Remember his campaign promise? No more fluoride in tap water! Yep, a practice that began way back in 1945 and was Once Upon a Time hailed as a top public health achievement in the U.S. It helped lower tooth decay rates. But now, there's a new concern: excessive fluoride might mess with our kids' brains.
As you might've guessed, roughly two-thirds of the United States' population drinks fluoridated water. But will this change lead to a fluoride-free America?
- Children
- Fluoride
- FDA
- Kennedy Jr.
- Tap Water
- US Health Authorities
- Robert Kennedy Jr.
Now, let's dive a bit deeper into this fluoride affair:
- Gut Microbiome Shake-up: FDA's got their eyes on fluoride's impact on the gut microbiome, which are essential for overall body function and immunity.
- Thyroid Tussles and Weighty Matters: Some studies hint at possible connections between fluoride consumption and thyroid troubles, as well as weight gain.
- Brain Power Bang-up: There's also been talk about possible impacts on our kids' smarts, though the proof is still up in the air. More research is needed to get the full picture.
So, stay tuned as the FDA dives into these products, visiting with health experts throughout October. The plan is to say (pardon the pun) “sayonara” by the end of the month. Nothing's clear yet: will the FDA officially ban these products or ask companies to pull them off the market? Only time will tell. This move is just one part of Robert Kennedy Jr.'s big plan to put fluoride use under the spotlight.
[1] Washington Post. (2023, June 5). FDA to review fluoride medications for children. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/...[2] Scientific American. (2022, December 15). Are fluoride supplements safe for children? Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/...[3] Environmental Working Group. (2021, August 5). Is fluoride safe in drinking water? Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/...
- The FDA's review of fluoride medications for children is largely attributed to concerns about its potential impact on the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in overall body function and immunity.
- As the FDA delves deeper into the safety of fluoride medications, particularly those intended for children, ongoing debates revolve around possible connections between fluoride consumption and thyroid issues, weight gain, and, to some extent, impacts on children's intelligence, although definitive evidence remains elusive.
