Texas attacks fluoride toothpastes as "dangerous," probes makers

[ruet]

Source: Ars Technica

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating two leading toothpaste makers over their use of fluoride, suggesting that they are "illegally marketing" the teeth cleaners to parents and kids "in ways that are misleading, deceptive, and dangerous."

The toothpaste makers in the crosshairs are Colgate-Palmolive Company, maker of Colgate toothpastes, and Proctor & Gamble Manufacturing Co., which makes Crest toothpastes. In an announcement Thursday, Paxton said he has sent Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) to the companies.

The move is an escalation in an ongoing battle over fluoride, which effectively prevents dental cavities and improves oral health. Community water fluoridation has been hailed by health and dental experts as one of the top 10 great public health interventions for advancing oral health across communities, regardless of age, education, or income. But, despite the success, fluoride has always had detractors—from conspiracy theorists in the past suggesting the naturally occurring mineral is a form of communist mind control, to more recent times, in which low-quality, controversial studies have suggested that high doses may lower IQ in children.

The debate was renewed earlier this year when the National Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences finally published a particularly contentious study after years of failed scientific reviews. The study claims to find a link between high levels of fluoride exposure and slightly lower IQs in children living in areas outside the US, mostly in China and India. But the study's methodology, statistical rigor, risk of bias, and lack of data transparency continue to draw criticism.

Read more: https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/05/texas-goes-after-toothpaste-in-escalating-fight-over-fluoride/?comments-page=1#comments

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[LiberalArkie]

1. Dangerous to dentists?

[DENVERPOPS]

20. A dentist told me a decade or two ago

that everyone drinking bottled water, which doesn't contain fluoride, is giving them tons more cavities to treat esp in children....

He also said that workers and athletes that are all using drinks like GATORaide are helping even more....The combination of Sugar and esp the SALT content, being consumed all day, was really accelerating tooth decay.........Far worse than just drinking soda pop...

[markodochartaigh]

25. Also the acid in drinks.

Citric acid is probably even worse than phosphoric acid for tooth enamel.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11580825/

[Aristus]

2. Well, they were proud to lean into the dumb redneck stereotype.

I guess now they're embracing the toothless hillbilly type.

Oh well, I guess we will know them by their smiles...

[wolfie001]

12. Facts matter!

[mamacita75]

17. fluoride

lololol

Tks for this visual Aristus.

[Initech]

27. Like 8 years ago, I said that social media was going to kill us all.

And it seems like my prediction is coming true. Alex Jones is one of the worst things to happen to this country.

[hadEnuf]

3. This is simply what happens when the extremist lunatics are allowed to take over.

If it helps most or all the people, then the Republican party is against it. According to them, no good deed shall go unpunished.

[UpInArms]

4. Hhmmmm ...

Rfk’s argument for taking fluoride from the water is that there is fluoride in toothpaste

[OldBaldy1701E]

5. So, anybody checked to see how many dentists Paxton has in his family?

How about orthodontists? Anyone checked his donations to see which major dentistry groups have donated?

Their intention is to make all healthcare unaffordable to all except the most wealthy, since they are convinced that such are the most important.

And, since we have done nothing in the last 100 year to dissuade them of that notion...

[Jerry2144]

6. Let's tell the GOP people that

dog crap is a safer toothpaste than anything else

[thought crime]

8. If Trump tells them it's safer, they'll go for it.

[Mawspam2]

7. Texas Colgate, now with Mercury for a shining silver smile!

I say give them what they want!

New CREST, Fluoride out, Asbestos in.

Tom's of Maine is now Tom's of Texas. Loaded with Benzene goodness!

[thought crime]

9. The John Birch Society lives on!

From Dr. Strangelove :

General Jack D. Ripper: “Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children's ice cream. “

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: “Lord, Jack. “

General Jack D. Ripper: “You know when fluoridation first began? “

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: “ I... no, no. I don't, Jack. “

General Jack D. Ripper: “Nineteen hundred and forty-six. 1946, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.”


Right Wingers & Fascists are driven by paranoia.

[Berlin Expat]

38. Yeah, that old JBS chestnut

about water fluoridation being part and parcel of a Communist conspiracy seems to have made a serious comeback.

I have to admit, I didn't see that coming: I thought it'd largely died out after being so effectively lampooned as a central plot point in Dr. Strangelove.

[Skittles]

10. looks like repukes have their new shiny object to distract their moronic base

fucking LUNACY

[bluestarone]

11. So, next will be the milk, then the meats, then the cottage cheese, then

Who the fuck knows!!

[wolfie001]

13. We'll all be bartering when they're through nt

[Maeve]

14. If your kids are stupid, it ain't the toothpaste, y'all

[Blue Owl]

15. Oh but drinking bleach and ingesting horse dewormer -- just fine!!!

[3825-87867]

16. The John Birch Society

[Harker]

18. I borrowed a library copy of "Dr. Strangelove" for this weekend. n/t

[BurnDoubt]

19. Is there yet a study...

into the wearing of Red headgear and IQ? The anecdotal evidence speaks for itself.

[BurnDoubt]

21. Step-grandfather from Ozarks ...

always handy with a remedy back in the '50's recommended letting the dog lick wounds because their spit was antiseptic. And that ear-ache, "come over here... let me blow smoke in your ear". It's a wiki, wiki, wiki, wiki, wiki, wiki, World! Do your own research and be your own Expert. Get your Money's Worth. Surprisingly, though, Ignorance doesn't come Cheap.

[BidenRocks]

30. Ears ringing?

Someone's thinking about you.
Child coughs? A spoon of honey and bourbon
Milwaukee German upbringing. Born 1955
We also had the dog lick. Ick.

[Figarosmom]

22. This is really going too far

Now people won't even have a choice of what to use or not in their own bodies.

It's bad enough that RFKwants to ban the covid vaccine and not allow it even for those of us that would choose it. And next likely go after the flu shots too

But to go after a commercial product that would be the last chance at protecting your teeth since they've banned Floiride in the water. Is just so irrational and stupid. Will it take their teeth rotting out before they wake the fuck up.


I'm guessing there are a lot of dangerous mods coming out of ABBOT LABS I wonder if any of thise will be banned.

[Meowmee]

23. First it's the water then the toothpaste

I said this would happen. Blackmarket on the way for regular toothpaste with fluoride even though there are plenty without to choose from.

[progressoid]

24. How are Ken's precious bodlily fluids?

[Initech]

26. Stop listening to fucking Alex Jones! That guy is a dipshit loser.

[joshdawg]

28. Once again, republicans

offering a solution to a non-existent problem.
As long as these bat-shit crazy lunatics are in office, this shit will continue and maggots eat it up.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

29. More anti-science to protect Reich Wingers "precious bodily fluids". ref. John Birch Society kooks

Kudos to posts 9, 16, 18, and 24 who had the same thought.

[3825-87867]

31. Cigareets, Whiskey and wild, wild wimmens is next, eh, Junior?

Well, at least cigarettes and Whiskey!

[Bayard]

32. From a personal standpoint,

My Dad was a big believer in using only baking soda and salt to brush your teeth when I was a little kid. My siblings and I all have/had mouthfuls of fillings. On a side note--the old dentist who put in all those fillings didn't use Novocaine.

Everyday, I think these people can't get any stupider, and they keep surpassing my expectations. Is there a shred of actual scientific research to support their pronouncements?

[Renew Deal]

33. Texas is in the pocket of Big Denture

[IronLionZion]

34. Idiocracy is getting faster to becoming our reality

I guess people will be paying a lot more for dentists to fill cavities soon.

[sakabatou]

35. *headdesk*

[Aussie105]

36. In a legal sense:

You'd need to prove intent and how it profits the makers of toothpaste by adding fluoride.

And negate the scientific research on the topic.

The 'Fluoride is bad!' campaign - sponsored by dentists and the makers of dentures?

But yes, high levels of fluoride are probably bad for people but you won't get ythat from brushing your teeth or drinking tap water.

[sinkingfeeling]

37. Insanity. Just ask any oral cancer survivor who's trying to save their teeth from radiation what they do every night.

They 'soak' their natural teeth in fluoride.

[Karasu]

39. Will the GOP just get this shit over with and declare that the world is flat already? Getting really fucking tired of

them revisiting every single fucking settled debate in the history of mankind just because they've made being anti-science mainstream again in this fucking stupid country.

[MadameButterfly]

40. Guys, this is an issue where there is ligitimate debate

https://fluoridealert.org/

The Fluoride Deception Paperback – March 7, 2006
by Christopher Bryson (Author), Theo Colborn (Foreword)

Yes, RFK Jr. is crazy, as was the John Birch society over the Communist link. But there are major Western countries who don't fluoridate their water, there IS research linking fluoride to health issues, and there are a growing variety of attitudes even among dentists.

My concern is more about fluoridated water where people are forced to ingest fluoride whether they want it or not, and cannot choose a dose appropriate to their health issues. With fluoridated toothpaste, a ban is unecessary as there are now plenty of fluoride-free toothpaste options for people who don't want fluoride.
However, note that toothpaste for young children has no fluoride because young children cannot be trusted not to swallow their toothpaste, and this is considered toxic by conventional medical authorities. The FDA has long stated that babies under 1 years old should not consume drinking water that contains fluoride, which is a risk for babies drinking formula and an issue that many parents are not informed about. (I wasn't warned by my doctors for my adopted baby).

This debate exists on both ends of the political spectrum so please don't take this as only a RW talking point, or lump it in with all the other crazy stuff they are doing. There is much more compelling stuff to be against, and we strain our credibility if we make assumptions that this is more of the same without doing our research.

[yardwork]

42. Take this crap somewhere else.

There is no legitimate debate about whether the earth is flat, the climate is changing, or fluoride.

If you want to learn first hand, volunteer to care for children who have such severe tooth decay they are in constant pain. Their teeth are rotten and broken. It's a huge problem in rural areas where people drink well water and don't get fluoridated water. Go see for yourself.

[yardwork]

43. There are numerous falsehoods in this post.

Here is a link to FDA guidance on fluoride for children. I have idea what lies might be on the FDA site today. This is from 2024:

https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-food-labeling-and-critical-foods/health-claim-notification-fluoridated-water-and-reduced-risk-dental-caries

[travelingthrulife]

44. You do know that fluoride is naturally occurring and some areas have higher levels than others

so some places don't need additional fluoride.
I grew up with well water, tons of cavities, and you pay for that damage all your life.

[ms liberty]

45. "This debate exists on both ends of the political spectrum"

Both "ends" of the political spectrum are where the nut jobs like to hang out.

[MadameButterfly]

49. I mean throughout the political spectrum

you can disagree but it just doesn't have to be about your political affiliation. And the far left, if you mean the people who want universal healthcare, are not nut jobs.

[Ping Tung]

41. Those dangerous fluorides sneak around your teeth, go to your innocent brains and make you a Commonist.

[Botany]

46. It is written on the box and on the tube if the toothpaste has fluoride in it. How is that misleading?

BTW. This goes back to the John Birch society’s anti fluoridation crap over 50 years ago
I am sure that Russia’s “Storm 15-16” misinformation network is pushing this bullshit and
using idiots like RFK Jr. and Paxton to spread the lies and cause social disruption.

Next thing they will tell me that we are getting more cases of measles because people
are getting vaccinated against that disease.

Christ on a Cracker.

“Fluoride in toothpaste is a key ingredient that helps prevent cavities and strengthens tooth enamel. It's a naturally occurring mineral found in many sources, including drinking water and some foods. Fluoride toothpaste is a popular and effective way to incorporate fluoride into your daily oral hygiene routine.”

[intheflow]

47. The US has little manufacturing. Crest is manufactured in NC.

So, yeah, Mr. Republican idiot, let's attack one of the few domestically produced products at a time when Republicans want us all to return to factories for our glorious future.

[milestogo]

48. How does being an attorney general make one an expert on dentistry?