Texas attorney general intensifies scrutiny of fluoride use in toothpaste brands
Torching the Toothpaste Tiangle: Is Big Dentistry Deceiving Us?
The toothpaste industry is squirming under the heat of controversy, with the Trump administration's scrutiny heating up, and major players like Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Co. (makers of Crest) are feeling the burn.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has fired up the grill, initiating an incendiary investigation last Thursday, accusing these brands of "devious marketing" tactics. The allegation? They've been peddling their products to kids and parents in a way that's not only misleading but potentially hazardous.
"These manufacturers have been flavoring their products and deceiving consumers, especially children, by marketing them in ways that persuade kids to gobble down fluoride toothpaste and trick their parents into using far more than is safe and sound," Paxton blazed in a fiery statement.
The dramatic turn of events comes as CNN reached for a statement from both companies, but crickets were the only response.
Fluoride, a mineral you'll find abundant in soil, rocks, and water, is also a byproduct of fertilizer production. With endorsements from health powerhouses like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization, cities across the nation have been dosing their drinking water with fluoride for decades, shielding teeth from cavities.
According to the Texas health department, "community water fluoridation is a safe and economical way to deliver fluoride to everyone."
Recent studies, however, have stirred up the cauldron of debate over the health risks associated with overexposure to fluoride, particularly its impact on children's intellectual development. In April, the US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Environmental Protection Agency announced they'd be delving into the science to make a revised recommendation on fluoride. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. even declared he'd instruct the CDC to cease endorsing fluoridation in drinking water for communities.
In March, Utah became the first state to axe fluoride from its public drinking water, with Florida hot on its heels, poised to become the second. Some cities have already pumped the brakes on fluoride, while others are considering the switch.
A report from the Cochrane Collaboration, published in October, revealed only a modest advantage in adding fluoride to tap water, with a slight decrease in cavities in children's baby teeth. However, researchers suggest that this benefit may be due to toothpaste becoming a more potent protector. In other words, toothpaste might have eclipsed tap water as the hero in dental health.
The Texas attorney general holds that the CDC and the American Dental Association (ADA) only recommend a smidgen of toothpaste on a child's toothbrush because of the recognized acute and long-term risks associated with fluoride overdose[1][2][4]. The ADA, however, has staunchly defended the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation, supporting the practice. The ADA maintains that fluoride in toothpaste provides an "additional boost in preventing tooth decay," and toothpastes must contain fluoride to earn the organization's coveted seal of approval, affectionately known as the ADA Seal of Acceptance[1][2].
CNN's Brenda Goodman, Jen Christensen, and Katherine Dillinger contributed to this report.
[1] The New York Times: "Is Fluoride Bad for Your Teeth?"[2] Scientific American: "The Truth About Fluoride"[4] Harvard Health: "What You Need to Know About Fluoride"
- The toothpaste industry is embroiled in controversy, with companies like Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Co. under scrutiny for their marketing tactics, particularly towards children.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation, accusing these brands of misleading marketing and potential health risks associated with overexposure to fluoride.
- In a statement, Paxton claimed these companies have been deceptively marketing their toothpaste to kids and parents, leading to fluoride overdose.
- Recent studies have raised concerns about the risks of overexposure to fluoride, particularly its impact on children's intellectual development.
- In response to these concerns, the US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Environmental Protection Agency announced they would be analyzing the science to revise their fluoride recommendations.
- In March, Utah became the first state to illegally stop dosing its public drinking water with fluoride, with Florida set to follow suit.
- The Cochrane Collaboration's report revealed a modest advantage in adding fluoride to tap water, suggesting that toothpaste might have become a more potent protector in dental health, potentially eclipsing the role of tap water.
