Following Robert F Kennedy Jr’s claims that US President Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from public water, let’s understand how the move can impact health

On January 20, the Trump White House volition counsel each U.S​. h2o systems to region fluoride from nationalist water. Fluoride is an concern discarded associated with arthritis, bony fractures, bony cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. President…

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 2, 2024

Later, portion talking to NBC News, Trump said: “I haven’t talked to him astir it yet, but it sounds OK to me,” adding: “It’s possible.”

Let’s recognize what fluoride is and however it affects health

Isha Lall, a holistic wellness coach, said fluoride is simply a mineral people recovered successful rocks, soil, and h2o sources. “Its relation successful preventing bony decay was discovered successful the aboriginal 20th period erstwhile researchers noticed little rates of cavities successful communities with people higher fluoride levels successful the water. Since then, governments worldwide person added fluoride to municipal h2o supplies to assistance trim bony decay— peculiarly successful children and adolescents,” she explained.

Our teeth’ enamel is perpetually demineralised by acids from bacteria and food, particularly sugars, starring to cavities implicit time. “Fluoride helps rebuild and fortify bony enamel, which protects teeth from decay and makes it a cardinal constituent successful astir toothpastes and mouthwashes,” she added.

Our teeth enamel is perpetually demineralized by acids from bacteria and food, (Source: Freepik)

Is fluoride harmless successful drinking water?

The abbreviated reply is yes but with immoderate conditions. “Fluoride is harmless and efficaciously reduces dental decay erstwhile utilized astatine recommended levels. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that h2o with fluoride levels of astir 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) is beneficial for dental wellness without posing risks. This magnitude is cautiously regulated and falls good beneath what would origin harm,” said Lall.

What happens erstwhile you region fluoride from drinking water?

Dr Suchismitha Rajamanya, Lead Consultant and Head of Internal Medicine astatine Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, shared that removing fluoride from h2o does not person overmuch of an interaction connected interior health.

However, an excess tin pb to associated symptom oregon trouble successful question aft immoderate clip – resulting successful skeletal fluorosis. “Conditions correlated to lethargy and value changes whitethorn constituent astatine the thyroid suffering from excess amounts of fluoride. The beingness of precocious levels of fluoride exacerbates the functioning of the kidneys, adding to the symptoms experienced by the patients,” she added.

Dr Niyati Arora, BDS, MDS (prosthodontist) astatine Krown Hub Dental Clinic, Pitampura, mentioned that it is important to support an optimum level of fluoride successful h2o to forestall the aboriginal onset of caries, particularly successful youngsters. An excess of it whitethorn pb to dental fluorosis, wherever the enamel becomes anemic and prone to the improvement of caries.

With fluoridated toothpaste, rima rinses, and nonrecreational treatments readily available, Lall shared that immoderate radical get plentifulness of fluoride without needing it successful their drinking water. However, fluoridated h2o inactive serves a nationalist wellness relation for populations with constricted entree to dental attraction oregon oral hygiene products.

*DISCLAIMER: This nonfiction is based connected accusation from the nationalist domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your wellness practitioner earlier starting immoderate routine.*