Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that if President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for a health care leadership role, the first thing he would work on would be eliminating fluoride from water.

Fluoride was first introduced into United States water in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Scientists have found a direct impact on positive dental health for those who drink water containing fluoride, helping to prevent tooth decay. Since then, 75% of Americans have access to fluoridated tap water, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

However, Kennedy, who is considered on Trump’s short list to head the Department of Health and Human Services, says fluoride in water causes other medical and health problems. “Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fracturesbone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease,” Kennedy said in an X post.

Asked about this potential change during an interview on NBC, Trump said: “Well, I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but it sounds OK to me.”

So, what are the health benefits of fluoride in water, and what would eliminating it mean?

Why is there fluoride in the water?

The CDC encourages the use of fluoride in water to prevent cavities. “Almost all water contains naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities,” says the CDC.

The CDC does not require fluoride to be added to all water supplies in the state. Rather, it is local authorities and communities themselves who vote in favor of this standard. Communities that added fluoride to their tap water saw benefits oral health and fewer dental caries. On the other hand, those who do not have fluoride in their water have higher levels of tooth decayaccording to a 2015 report from Hawaii, a state without fluoride in its water.

The United States Public Health Service mandates a certain level of fluoride that can be added due to the risk of fluorosis. Although rare, it is recommended that fluoride levels be around 0.7 ML/gallon of water.

Fluoride should not be present in drinking water. If drinking tap water, consider using a filter that removes fluoride and other minerals.

Are there any health risks associated with fluoride?

Kennedy wants to eliminate fluoride from water because he says it causes “arthritis, broken bones, bone cancerloss of IQ, neurodevelopmental disordersand thyroid diseases.

However, experts say there are no health risks from fluoride in water, according to health.com. What officials agree on is that fluoride in small amounts can be very beneficial, but in large amounts it can be toxic.

While there is evidence of the oral health benefits of adding this mineral to water, there is no evidence of the health risks Kennedy claims are linked to fluoride.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drinking fluoridated water reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults, leading to less mouth pain, fewer fillings or tears. teeth and fewer days missed from work and school.” says health.com.

Kennedy’s assertion comes from his concern about fluorosis, which is excessive fluoride consumption leading to other health problems.

What is fluorosis?

In 1936, while scientists were testing whether or not fluoride should be added to water, Dr. H. Trendley Dean, head of the USPHS and founder of the Dental Hygiene Unit, discovered that levels of fluoride at 1.0 ml/gallon were too low to cause fluorosis. His discoveries remain used in medicine today.

Fluorosis occurs when a person ingests too much fluoride over a long period of time. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Dental fluorosis causes tooth discoloration. You can correct it with cosmetic treatment. Skeletal fluorosis affects your bones and joints. It can cause pain, stiffness and bone deformities. »

While dental fluorosis Affecting approximately 23% of Americans, skeletal fluorosis is extremely rare. Most areas of the United States that add fluoride to drinking water keep it at the suggested limit of 0.7 ML/gallon.

What will happen if fluoride is removed from the water supply?

If fluoride is removed from water, it will still contain a fraction of fluoride (naturally), but not enough to see oral health benefits, explains Medical Today.

Poorer dental health could lead to more visits to the dentist as well as increased dental bills.

“Previous research indicates that without the presence of optimal levels of fluoride “In drinking water, and therefore in the mouth and saliva, teeth can form with weaker enamel and not have the ability to remineralize the first signs of decay,” explains Jennifer Meyer, researcher at the University from Alaska to Anchorage.

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