Khaberni - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned against giving children swallowable fluoride tablets, confirming that they are not medically approved.
The administration announced that it will take action against companies that produce fluoride tablets for oral use in children, confirming that they are not medically approved and should not be used for children under the age of three, nor for older children unless they are highly susceptible to tooth decay.
Experts believe that brushing teeth twice a day is more effective than using fluoride tablets.
What is the reason for the warning?
Fluoride tablets are usually used in areas where fluoride is not available in drinking water to strengthen teeth and prevent decay. However, the Food and Drug Administration stated that these tablets are different from toothpaste and mouthwash because they are swallowed, explaining that the tablets have not received safety approval for decades, and scientific evidence indicates that swallowing fluoride may negatively affect the gut microbiome in children (beneficial gut bacteria), and there is no conclusive evidence that these tablets actually reduce tooth decay in children's milk teeth.
The agency also referred to previous scientific reviews, including the prestigious "Cochrane" review, which did not find a clear benefit of these tablets in preventing tooth decay in young children.
Background of the decision
The U.S. Department of Health described this move as "a step to protect children from outdated and unproven practices." The U.S. Health Secretary said: "These products have been used for decades without safety approval, today we raise awareness and protect our children."
The decision is part of a campaign to reassess the role of fluoride in public health, especially after reports indicating its potential impact on neurodevelopment and the slight decrease in the intelligence quotient among some children exposed to high levels of it.
What about the opposition to the decision?
The American Dental Association criticized the move, affirming that the tablets are effective in reducing tooth decay, and said that "stopping their use could harm rural areas where fluoride is not available in the water." The association has called for more studies before making a final decision.
Experts believe that brushing teeth twice a day is more effective than using fluoride tablets.
Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration emphasized relying on safe and proven methods to protect children's teeth such as brushing teeth twice a day, using a small amount of fluoride-containing toothpaste under parental supervision, and regular visits to the dentist.
