What to know about fluoride in water following RFK Jr.'s health claims

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s caller comments connected fluoride are prompting questions astir its information and why it's utilized successful drinking water.

Kennedy, a erstwhile statesmanlike campaigner turned Trump protagonist who has long shared anti-vaccine views, said connected societal media Saturday that Donald Trump would push to region fluoride from drinking h2o connected his first time successful agency if elected president. Trump has antecedently suggested he'd put Kennedy successful complaint of wellness initiatives.

On Sunday, Trump told NBC News he had not spoken to Kennedy astir fluoride yet, "but it sounds OK to me. You cognize it's possible."

In a station on societal media, Kennedy claimed fluoride is linked to a slew of wellness problems.

Why nan fearfulness complete fluoride? Here's what to know. 

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is simply a mineral that helps strengthens teeth and reduces cavities, according to nan U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It does this by repairing and preventing harm to teeth caused by germs successful nan rima that nutrient acid, which successful move dissolves minerals successful a tooth's aboveground and tin moreover lead to bony loss. 

Tooth decay by itself tin beryllium achy and costly to dainty but near untreated tin origin further problems, including infections and abscesses aliases moreover sepsis, according to nan World Health Organization. 

Some investigation has besides linked mediocre oral wellness to different complications specified arsenic cardiovascular disease owed to inflammation and infection.

This is why experts impulse prevention arsenic nan champion measurement to support your dental (and overall) wellness successful check. 

Why fluoride is successful h2o and its wellness benefits

"Almost each h2o contains immoderate people occurring fluoride, but usually astatine levels excessively debased to forestall cavities," nan CDC's website notes. 

In 1950, national officials endorsed h2o fluoridation — adding a mini amount of fluoride to nan h2o proviso — to forestall bony decay. Fluoride tin travel from a number of sources, including astir toothpaste brands, but researchers say drinking h2o is nan main root for Americans.

"Studies proceed to show that wide organization h2o fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, some for families and nan wellness attraction system," nan CDC says, noting that this measurement has reduced bony decay successful children and adults by astir 25%.

Dr. Naomi Levy Goldman, cosmetic and restorative dentist and proprietor of Levy Goldman Dentistry, told CBS News that, astatine recommended levels, studies person shown drinking fluoridated h2o is "beneficial for preventing dental decay, particularly successful nan first 3 years of life erstwhile nan superior and imperishable teeth are still developing."

"Studies besides show that consuming fluoridated h2o astatine nan existent recommended levels should not origin neurotoxicity aliases different adverse effects," she said.

Is fluoride successful drinking h2o safe?

The recommended fluoride attraction successful drinking h2o is 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water, which is astir adjacent to 3 drops successful a 55-gallon barrel, according to nan CDC. 

In 2015, officials lowered the proposal for drinking h2o fluoride levels to reside fluorosis, a information that tin origin discoloration connected teeth.

"The severity of nan achromatic spots (or fluorosis of nan enamel) seems to summation pinch higher concentrations of fluoride," Levy Goldman said. "One study noted astir 12% of group would person immoderate level of flourosis of nan enamel from drinking fluoridated h2o astatine 1ppm."

Overall, nan summation of debased levels of fluoride to drinking h2o is considered by wellness officials to beryllium 1 of the greatest nationalist wellness achievements of nan past century.

"Seventy years of research, thousands of studies and nan acquisition of much than 210 cardinal Americans show america that h2o fluoridation is effective successful preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults," according to nan American Dental Association.

But it hasn't gone without controversy. 

Earlier this year, nan National Institutes of Health's toxicology program determined "with mean confidence" that location is simply a nexus betwixt higher levels of fluoride vulnerability and little IQ successful kids. The national agency based its conclusion connected studies involving fluoride levels astatine astir doubly nan recommended limit for drinking water.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has questioned the validity of nan NIH's report, saying different reviews person travel to different conclusions astir fluoride's risks and benefits. The AAP is among nan master groups that proceed to urge utilizing fluoride toothpaste, successful operation pinch fluoridated water, to protect teeth from cavities.

U.S. District Judge Edward Chen later cited nan NIH study in ordering officials to further modulate fluoride successful drinking water. 

While nan judge was observant to opportunity that his ruling "does not reason pinch certainty that fluoridated h2o is injurious to nationalist health," he said that grounds of its imaginable consequence was now capable to warrant forcing nan Environmental Protection Agency to return action.

Critics person cited near-universal take of fluoride toothpaste and different dental products arsenic grounds that nan chemic nary longer needs to beryllium added to drinking water. Other countries overseas person trim cavity rates without adding it to their h2o supplies, they argue.

The CDC has said that continued h2o fluoridation is still nan "most cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to each members of nan organization sloppy of age, acquisition attainment, aliases income level."

CBS News has reached retired to nan American Dental Association for commentary.  

Alexander Tin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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• Drinking Water