In brief
- Role of Pediatricians: Pediatricians play a vital role in educating communities about fluoride.
- Impact on Children: Tooth decay is a prevalent health issue, especially among children from low-income families.
- Safety Concerns: Recent studies do not indicate safety issues related to fluoride in drinking water at current levels.
- Additional Resources: The American Academy of Pediatrics provides valuable resources for understanding fluoride.
Pediatricians and other health professionals have a critical role to play in educating their patients and communities about fluoride. In a new video, Dr. Scott Hadland, a pediatrician, models how to do it. He clarifies what the evidence shows about fluoride in drinking water — both its benefits and its safety.
Why is fluoride important for children’s dental health?
As Dr. Hadland explains, tooth decay is “one of the most common health problems in children.” He adds that tooth decay disproportionately affects children from families that cannot afford regular dental care. Water fluoridation is important because it reaches all kids in a community.
The importance of fluoride in preventing tooth decay is well-documented, making it a critical public health intervention.
What do recent studies say about fluoride safety?
A program at the National Institutes of Health reviewed a cluster of fluoride studies from abroad. Its 2024 report generated headlines that have confused or misled some parents. Dr. Hadland says that the studies that were reviewed do not show any safety concerns “at our levels of fluoride in our drinking water.”
This emphasizes that, based on current evidence, fluoride remains safe and beneficial in recommended amounts.
What resources are available for understanding fluoride?
Besides Dr. Hadland’s video, there are other resources to share with parents or to inform your own understanding of fluoride and fluoridation:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has created a new Fact Checked page that summarizes what is known about fluoride.
- AAP’s Campaign for Dental Health has a special page that prepares health professionals to have positive conversations with patients about fluoride in drinking water.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Truer words were never spoken.
