FDA Takes Action to Restrict Fluoride Supplements for Children
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Briana Mercola
4.6 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 1 January 2026
⏱️ 8 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Fluoridated water has shaped U.S. dental policy since the 1940s, when officials began adding fluoride to public water supplies in an effort to reduce childhood cavities.1 As of 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 72.3% of Americans on community water systems (about 62.8% of the entire population) received fluoridated water,2 making systemic exposure nearly unavoidable.
Mounting evidence now shows that fluoride offers little measurable benefit for dental health while introducing significant risks, particularly for children. Many countries, including Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have already abandoned water fluoridation.3 In the U.S., Utah and Florida recently became the first states to ban the practice, and similar bills are emerging elsewhere.4
However, in places where fluoride is not added to tap water, fluoride supplements are prescribed for infants and children. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is taking action to restrict the use of these prescription fluoride supplements, following a directive from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission to reassess their safety and effectiveness.5
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Ever wondered why something added to your tap water in the 1940s is still given to your child as a prescription, |
| 0:06.0 | despite limited benefits and growing safety concerns? |
| 0:10.0 | Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. |
| 0:13.0 | Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go. |
| 0:18.0 | No reading required. Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights. |
| 0:23.3 | Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. Today we're examining the FDA's new move to restrict |
| 0:30.3 | ingestible fluoride supplements for children. Why the science behind systemic fluoride is being |
| 0:36.0 | re-evaluated and practical steps you can take |
| 0:38.9 | to lower exposure at home. I'm Ethan Foster, your guide for clear, thoughtful explanations that |
| 0:44.7 | help you make informed decisions. I'm Alara Sky, and I'll unpack what the FDA's review |
| 0:50.2 | actually found, how it lines up with recent research, and where professional organizations |
| 0:55.6 | still disagree. By the end, you'll understand the policy shift, the evidence behind it, |
| 1:02.2 | and how to apply it in your daily life. The headline is simple. The FDA has announced federal |
| 1:08.5 | restrictions on ingestible fluoride drugs for children. |
| 1:11.9 | The agency sent notices to four companies marketing unapproved fluoride tablets and drops, |
| 1:17.5 | especially those labeled for kids under three or for children, at low or moderate cavity risk. |
| 1:22.9 | This marks a pivot toward tighter oversight and a risk-based approach to prevention. |
| 1:27.0 | This federal review followed a directive from the Make America Healthy Again Commission, |
| 1:31.3 | which pushed agencies to reassess exposures affecting children's development. |
| 1:36.3 | The FDA then completed a scientific assessment and public comment process |
| 1:41.3 | and paired enforcement with clinician guidance, a research agenda |
| 1:45.6 | with the NIH, and a national oral health strategy. |
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