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With a push from RFK Jr., baseless fears about fluoride go mainstream (www.statnews.com)

submitted 3 days ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world

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Summary

President-elect Donald Trump’s support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken opponent of water fluoridation, is pushing baseless anti-fluoride views into mainstream debate.

Despite scientific consensus that fluoridation is safe and prevents tooth decay, especially in underserved communities, Kennedy plans to advise water districts against it, citing unfounded health concerns.

While fluoridation decisions are regulated by state and local governments, Trump’s administration could influence conservative states to drop fluoridation, potentially undermining a key public health tool and increasing dental health disparities, particularly for disadvantaged children.

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[–] Bacano@lemmy.world -3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Everytime this topic is mentioned people say the same things about how the critics of fluorinated municipal water don't know how much it's helped cavities and stuff. Someone once pointed out that it's important to understand that their concern is on its effects on brain chemistry for which there's evidence that it has toxic effects.

Dental health is irrelevant so save your breath or at least know that it's seen as a straw man argument. Personally, I looked it up and can see the potential for negative effects (imbalance in seratonin levels as per a .gov website). I still drink the fluoride water but do so with jaded resignation that I may be participating in the lead pipe experiment of my generation.

[–] BugKilla@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

Everytime this topic comes up somebody who claims "I did my own research!" always bleats out anecdotes without basis, scientific proof or citing credible sources.

Deployed at the optimal concentration level, fluoride in water poses no impact to human mental or phyisological development. Dental health is relevant when your teeth are fucked and there is clear evidence that poor dental hygiene results in poor health outcomes more broadly. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8361186/

Here is an Australian systemic review goes back when fluoridation was first introduced in the 1950s (Tasmania) and federally in the 1970s. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001393512301719X It covers the scientific data available, health studies conducted and makes mention of the politicisation of the subject.