On day one of Donald Trump's presidency, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he'll be advising Trump to take fluoride out of public water.
The former independent presidential hopeful — and prominent proponent of debunked public health claims — has been told he'll be put in charge of health initiatives in the new Trump administration. He's described fluoride as "industrial waste." Here's what scientists say, and what we know about fluoride in drinking water in Canada.
What is fluoride? Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, released from rocks into the soil, water and air. It's commonly used in dentistry to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. In many parts of the world, including Canada, public health authorities or local governments add it to the drinking water supply to help prevent tooth decay in the community.
Major public health bodies around the world, including the World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) support the practice. PHAC says fluoridation is associated with an approximate 25 per cent reduction in tooth decay in children and adults. In the U.
S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named it one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century. In Canada, 38.
8 per cent of the population has access to fluoridated water, according to PHAC. Access varies across provinces and territories, based on several factors like cost, infrastructure and community concerns. But some have questioned the practice: from.
