The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recently updated its stance on ingestible fluoride supplements meant for children, while the Utah Dental Association provided its own advice regarding the supplements.
Meanwhile, a local dentist said fluoride use should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
According to a press release from the Utah Dental Association, the FDA will continue to allow fluoride supplements to be purchased by parents to assist with their children’s dental needs.
Richard J. Rosato, the president of the American Dental Association, said in the press release that these supplements are a safe and effective way to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities in children, especially for those at high risk of tooth decay and if their water is deficient in fluoride.
“A doctor’s clinical judgement, not a new warning label, should remain the guiding factor in determining appropriate fluoride use for children, ensuring both safety and access to essential oral health care,” Rosato said.
St. George News anchor Monica McGlochlin and Dahle Family Dental owner Dr. Ryan Dahle discuss fluoride use in children, St. George, Utah, Nov. 6, 2025.
The FDA advised parents to communicate with their dentist about fluoride supplements, with Rosato providing another statement.
“As tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease worldwide and, in the USA, it is important for parents to talk with their dentist or their child’s pediatric dentist whether fluoride supplements are right for their child,” Rosato said. “A dentist can assess the naturally occurring fluoride levels in the water, the child’s diet, cavity risk, and age to determine the proper dosage and delivery method.”
Dr. Ryan Dahle, a dentistry specialist who practices at Dahle Family Dental in St. George, said the controversial question of fluoride supplements is hard to answer, especially with the input from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“It’s really a case-by-case basis on the fluoride supplements, and Robert Kennedy is basically telling us that we shouldn’t give kids under 3 the supplements like the pill,” Dahle said. “Reality is, I, as a doctor, have not given those pills in my whole career. So it’s not necessarily that it’s a bad thing, but fluoride is a controversial topic that should be looked at as a case-by-case basis.”
Dahle said regardless of one’s stance on fluoride, he tells patients these dental decisions should be made at home.
“I’m going to give you advice to take care of your teeth the way that you should, brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day, getting that so eating good foods, healthy foods, is more important than what you’re putting in, like your toothpaste or the water or some pill,” Dahle said.
Dahle told St. George News that’s what it comes down to, practicing the fundamentals of dental care. Eating healthy foods, brushing and flossing your teeth and other basic forms of dental care are far more impactful than taking a pill.
“So my patients, I tell them, you know, there are new things out there, they don’t have the studies behind fluoride, and … that’s the part that’s more of an issue,” Dahle said. “You may have heard of something called nano hydroxyapatite. That’s kind of what’s making the news, and what people are trying to convert over to, which isn’t a studied thing quite yet, but it is kind of what our teeth are made of.”
Original article online at: https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/southern-utah-dentist-state-dental-association-offer-fluoride-advice-following-statements-from-fda/article_f7df3387-37f7-4543-9889-0603290fcd8a.html