Unbiased Science

Whetting your Hydroxyapatite for Fluoride

15 snips
Dec 3, 2025
Guest
Ashley Lerman
Dr. Ashley Lerman, a pediatric dentist and founder of First Grin, dives into the heated debate surrounding fluoride and hydroxyapatite. She explores fluoride's key role in cavity prevention while critiquing claims about its potential IQ impacts. The conversation touches on health equity in dental care access and how community fluoridation affects underserved populations. Lerman also introduces hydroxyapatite as a promising alternative but cautions that it lacks the proven effectiveness of fluoride. It’s a thought-provoking discussion on balancing oral health benefits and risks.
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ADVICE

Use Clinical Judgment For Fluoride Supplements

  • Avoid blanket restrictions on fluoride supplements for young children without clinical judgment.
  • Let doctors and dentists decide supplementation based on individual cavity risk.
INSIGHT

How Fluoride Protects Teeth

  • Fluoride strengthens teeth by replacing ions and making enamel more acid-resistant.
  • Topical exposure frequency (e.g., toothpaste) is key to its protective effect.
INSIGHT

IQ Studies Often Use Much Higher Fluoride Levels

  • Studies linking fluoride to reduced IQ often examine much higher natural exposures than community fluoridation.
  • Reported small IQ differences may be statistical noise and not clinically meaningful.
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