This week, the US health department announced a plan to ban prescription fluoride supplements for children. These ingested fluoride products are dispensed at safe doses by doctors and dentists to prevent tooth decay in children who are unable to get adequate fluoride doses from community water systems—something that may become more common as more states and cities remove or ban fluoride from their water.
Both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend fluoridating community water and advise prescribing fluoride supplements for children who do not get adequate fluoride dosages through their water. //
While Makary said that the FDA will conduct a safety review of fluoride supplements, the conclusion seems to be foregone, with the HHS writing that it is already "initiating action to remove" the products.
The ADA noted that places that have removed fluoride from drinking water, such as Calgary, Canada, and Juneau, Alaska, have seen increases in dental decay, particularly among children and low-income populations. //
Beteljuice Smack-Fu Master, in training
7y
74
Subscriptor++
They preach fluoride because most dentists are ignorant of Vitamin K2 which massively helps re-mineralize. Most westerners are deficient in this extremely important vitamin. In fact, Vitamin K2 deficiency is the chief driver of osteoporosis.
About four years ago my dentist before he retired was perplexed at my X-Rays, noting his fixation on them I cautiously asked, "Is there something wrong???" He then slowly gestured with his index finger, "Thissss.... new... tooth enamel is MOST unusual." I then told him, "That's because I take Vitamin K2 every day." He then looked over to me as I lay on the dentist chair and said "Vitamin K2???" Being the father of a friend of mine, our relationship was very casual with no pretense, e.g., "I'm a dentist, I know everything about teeth." I then gave him a nutrition lesson. He had never heard of Vitamin K2. More to the point he had never seen anything like he saw that day in my X-Rays during the 30+ years of being a dentist. Want to guess what vitamin he was taking when I saw him for my next cleaning?
(before commenting and/or voting do read this link)
https://www.ericdavisdental.com/faqs-and-blog/blog/vitamin-k2-and-its-benefits-for-teeth/. //
MST2.021K Ars Praetorian
4y
546
Subscriptor
Vitamin K2 might work towards supporting dentin, underneath the enamel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteocalcin
Clearly though, protecting the enamel first works better which is the entire point of fluoridation. //
moongoddess Ars Centurion
14y
347
Subscriptor++
SixDegrees said:
The objection being raised is "mandatory, imposed medication." So I don't see how your proposed solutions would escape being called the same.
In which case, there goes iodide in salt as well. Hello, goiters! //
SixDegrees Ars Legatus Legionis
10y
45,760
Subscriptor
moongoddess said:
In which case, there goes iodide in salt as well. Hello, goiters!
Sure. Also enriched flour, vitamin D milk, and so on.
Lots of this stuff isn't all that important - for the middle and upper classes, who can afford varied and high quality diets. They mainly help those on the lower economic rungs, although everyone benefits to a degree. It's just that the poor may not have any alternatives, and rely on fortification for good health. Even if you eat only the junkiest of junk foods, there's a good chance it's produced with enriched flour and iodized salt. //
stinkly Smack-Fu Master, in training
15y
98
Subscriptor
I'm surprised not to see any mention of recently-reported research showing a negative correlation of intelligence and fluoride intake in the article, in the comments, or evidently in RFK's rationale for the proposed ban. I'm not a domain expert, so I'm ill-prepared to put the research into context, but it's evidently a real thing.
