One of the most important lessons from the Covid-19 experience is that absolutes in scientific discourse are the exception. Science evolves as both controlled clinical research and real-world evidence show us how to use health care technologies to better advance the human condition.
Such a tool is fluoride. Extensively studied over decades, fluoride has been scientifically validated for its effectiveness in reducing dental cavities, particularly in children. It is incorporated into municipal water supplies, toothpastes, mouth rinses, and dietary supplements. The benefits of fluoride writ large far outweigh its risks, but no health care intervention is ever 100% risk-free. It’s the Food and Drug Administration’s job to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of fluoride-containing drugs and supplements based on robust scientific analysis and regular post-marketing surveillance.
This past May, the FDA announced, in a cart-before-the-horse statement, that it intends to remove fluoride supplements from the market effective October 2025, after a safety review is completed. According to the FDA, this safety review applies to “ingestible fluoride prescription drug products” — not toothpaste, mouth rinses, or other topical products containing fluoride. But what is the point of a safety review if the agency has already made up its mind? Instead of this pale imitation of a scientific inquiry, it should use a new AI tool at its disposal to actually answer any questions about safety.
Original article online at: https://www.statnews.com/2025/08/01/fluoride-supplements-prescription-fda-review-rfk-jr/