RFK Jr. wants to stop adding fluoride to drinking water. Here’s what scientists say

On the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he will advise Trump to eliminate fluoride from public water. Former independent presidential candidate and prominent supporter debunked health care claims — he was told he would be in charge of health care initiatives in the new Trump administration. He called fluoride an “industrial waste.”

Here’s what scientists say and what we know about fluoride in drinking water in Canada.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is released from rocks into soil, water and air.

It is commonly used in dentistry to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.

In many parts of the world, including Canada, public health authorities or local governments add it to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay in communities.

This practice is supported by major public health authorities around the world, including the World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). PHAC reports that fluoridation is associated with an approximate 25% reduction for caries in children and adults. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named it one of the excellent healthcare achievements of the 20th century.

In Canada, 38.8% of the population has access to fluoridated water, according to PHAC. Access varies across provinces and territories depending on several factors such as cost, infrastructure and community issues.

But some have questioned the practice: from the debunked conspiracy theory from communist conspiracy V 1950son whether fluoridation is effective enough to justify the cost.

Many concerns, including those raised by Kennedy in the run-up to the US election, have no sound scientific basis, says Jerry Uswak, director of the dental therapy program at the University of Saskatchewan.

“Non-scientists interpret scientific data and make policy decisions based on emotion rather than objectivity,” he said.

What are the risks?

Taking too much fluoride over a long period of time can lead to skeletal fluorosis, a bone disease that can cause bone pain and deformities. Condition extremely rare in Canada because health authorities regulate fluoride levels in water to ensure it is safe.

According to Health Canada, another moderate risk for children is dental fluorosis. Children who consume more fluoride than recommended (for example, by swallowing toothpaste) may develop white spots on the surface of their teeth, but there are no other symptoms or harm associated with the condition.

Aaron Berry, CEO of the Canadian Dental Association, says he is willing to change his recommendations on water fluoridation if the science demands it. But right now he’s not sure the risks outweigh the benefits.

“We look at all the studies that come out every year. And so far we have not seen anything that … would cause concern,” he said.

Is there an impact on young brains?

Some scientists have recently studied the possible connection between fluoride and intelligence in children.

A The 2019 study was published in JAMA Pediatrics. suggests a link between lower IQ scores among Canadian children aged three to four years and the levels of fluoride consumed by their mothers during pregnancy. The study did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship—factors other than fluoride may have been at play—and its methods and findings were also widely criticized at that time.

“This is not to say that fluoride during pregnancy definitely does not affect IQ – it is just that it is far from clear that it is even the main explanation for these relatively small differences in IQ,” said Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University. in the UK

When the article was published, the editor of the journal explained his decision to publish the article, noting the importance of studying any possible link between fluoride exposure and cognitive development.

“Scientific research is an iterative process,” wrote Dr. Dimitri Christakis in an editor’s note.

“It’s rare that one study provides definitive evidence.”

Christine Thill, one of the study’s authors and a professor of psychology at York University, says there is not enough evidence of a link at lower exposure levels—those currently recommended for drinking water in the U.S. and Canada.

“We don’t have a lot of research in this area. We need more research and iteration,” Till said.

Another report The publication, published this summer by the U.S. National Toxicology Program, also examines the effects of all sources of fluoride exposure, such as food, water or toothpaste, on pregnant women, infants and children. This suggests that high exposure levels—1.5 milligrams per liter—are associated with lower IQ in children. That’s more than double Canada’s recommended water concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter.

Recent review High-quality research on the subject published by Cochrane, an international network of health professionals that studies health research, suggests that although fluoride in water leads to less tooth decay in children, the benefit may be less than before fluoride was also added was added to the water. most toothpastes.

This is not surprising, says Berry. He says water fluoridation is “one tool in a toolbox” to ensure dental health among Canadians.

Usvak says those who can’t afford to go to the dentist will be the hardest hit by fluoridation.

“Those people in the community who face the greatest barriers to accessing health care are the people who benefit the most from community water fluoridation.”