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Jordan News
14-05-2025
- Health
- Jordan News
Vitamin D Deficiency: The Silent Killer of Children's Tooth Enamel? - Jordan News
One of the recently identified conditions in the field of dentistry is Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH). This disorder was officially recognized in 2001 by Professor Henrik Weerheijm and his research team at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) in the Netherlands, through their groundbreaking study that described the condition for the first time. This marked the beginning of growing awareness around the issue of enamel hypomineralization in children. اضافة اعلان Understanding the Possible Causes Since then, MIH has become a major subject of interest in medical and scientific circles. Researchers are striving to uncover its potential causes—ranging from environmental to genetic factors—while also working on effective treatment strategies for its associated symptoms, such as severe tooth sensitivity and increased risk of cavities. This ongoing research is helping to shed light on the mechanisms of the condition and how to prevent it. Is Vitamin D the Main Culprit? Recent studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency during childhood is a key risk factor for developing MIH. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus—two minerals that make up more than 90% of tooth enamel. Evidence from Labs Around the World: Saudi Arabia, Japan, Switzerland Switzerland: A 2024 study from the University of Zurich, led by Professor Benjamin Sluska and published in BMC Oral Health, found that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of MIH by up to 43%. Saudi Arabia: A 2023 systematic review published in Children – MDPI, led by Dr. Ahmed Al-Ali from King Abdulaziz University, confirmed that low vitamin D levels at birth are associated with a higher risk of developing MIH. Australia: In a 2025 study published in Clinical Oral Investigations, Dr. Sophie Hammond showed that sun exposure during a child's first two years reduces the risk of MIH by 38%. Japan: A 2024 study from Osaka University, led by Dr. Yamamoto and published in the Paediatric Dental Journal, warned against the early use of antibiotics, which can negatively affect vitamin D levels and increase the incidence of MIH. USA: A 2023 study by Columbia University, published in BMC Oral Health, found that children with vitamin D deficiency are 22% more likely to suffer from dental caries, especially in primary teeth. A Global Epidemic: Alarming Numbers A global study led by Dr. Wenjundong Zhao from Anhui Medical University in China (2017), published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, revealed that 12.9% of the world's children are affected by MIH, with rates as high as 20% in parts of South America. The author of this article suspects even higher prevalence in the Arab world, pending a major upcoming study by King Saud University's College of Dentistry on MIH epidemiology in Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The devastating effects of this condition are not just cosmetic—it can affect nutrition, mental health, and cause dental fear from an early age due to the need for intensive dental treatments at a very young age. The Rescue Plan: Protecting Children's Teeth Starts Today In its 2025 annual report for World Oral Health Day (March), the World Health Organization recommended the following steps to protect children from MIH: Early diagnosis: Visit the dentist before age 6 and before the eruption of permanent teeth. Sun exposure: 15 minutes of daily sunlight (under medical advice). Vitamin D screening: Test and supplement if deficient—particularly important in Arab countries, where despite abundant sunlight, up to 90% of people are deficient due to sun avoidance. Preventive care: Regular fluoride use and periodic dental checkups. Advanced treatments: Use of resistant fillings or crowns (ceramic or metal) for advanced MIH cases. Final Word Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization is not merely about white spots—it may be an early indicator of a serious vitamin D deficiency that threatens bone development and overall health. Prevention starts from day one of a child's life, through proper nutrition and consistent exposure to sunlight.
Miami Herald
29-01-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Will a Florida county remove fluoride from drinking water? What to know about the issue
Manatee County leaders plan to discuss the possibility of removing fluoride from the county's drinking water Tuesday. Commissioner Amanda Ballard is calling for the county to stop adding the mineral to the local water supply following a renewed national debate about its safety. What results have been seen in other communities that removed fluoride from drinking water? Here's what we found. National debate over fluoride A recent government report about potential impacts of high levels of fluoride on children's IQ levels was followed by controversial guidance from Florida's surgeon general, Joseph A. Ladapo, that communities should stop fluoridating water altogether. Conversations about fluoride were further polarized by comments made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, when he claimed fluoride is an 'industrial waste' linked to diseases and said he would advocate against it at the federal level. There is strong evidence that fluoride is a reliable and cost-effective way to protect teeth, and government health agencies and medical professionals have long vouched for its safety. Some recent studies have raised concerns about the effects of high levels of fluoride on developing children, and some health experts agree that the issue needs more study. But many health experts continue advocating for its use, arguing that there is not clear evidence that fluoride poses health risks at the low levels used in U.S. water supplies. Despite reassurances of fluoride's safety from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations, the concerns have a wave of Florida communities abandoning a decades-long practice. Studies show worse oral health after fluoride removed Several studies have found that communities that stopped fluoridating water saw an uptick in cavities and oral health issues among children. A study conducted in Juneau, Alaska, and published in 2018 in BMC Oral Health found that children of low-income households had a significant increase in dental decay after the community stopped adding fluoride to its water, resulting in more dental procedures and Medicaid expenses. Some communities that opted to ditch fluoride have reversed course after an uptick in cavities and oral health issues. In Calgary, the largest city in the Canadian province of Alberta, officials voted to stop fluoridating water in 2011. But after a study showed that cavities among children increased dramatically in the following years, voters elected in a referendum to bring the fluoride back. In Buffalo, New York, city officials recently brought fluoride back online following a class action lawsuit from residents. The suit was filed after an investigative reporter found that the city had not been adding fluoride to its water for nine years, unbeknownst to residents. In South Florida, Miami-Dade and Broward counties add fluoride to the drinking water supply. Have there been positive effects of removing fluoride? The Bradenton Herald's review of recent scientific studies did not find any positive health outcomes reported in communities where fluoride has been discontinued. A 2024 scientific review published by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that the widespread use of toothpaste and mouthwash containing fluoride had reduced the beneficial impact of fluoride in public water supplies. However, one of the study's authors said that doesn't mean it's no longer beneficial. 'There's no evidence to suggest that where water fluoridation programs are in place, that they should necessarily be stopped,' Anne-Marie Glenny, one of the study's authors, told NBC news. Fluoride's possible effects on children's IQ also remain a subject of debate. While some peer-reviewed studies have found associations between fluoride exposure and loss of IQ or behavioral issues in infants and children, others have found no effect on brain development. A University of Queensland study published in December in the Journal of Dental Research found that participants who had been drinking fluoridated water since childhood had higher average IQ scores. As research efforts continue, there is not a strong consensus among the medical community that fluoride should be removed from public water supplies. The scientific review at the center of a recent federal court case over fluoride also acknowledges that more information is needed. 'More research is needed to better understand if there are health risks associated with low fluoride exposures,' the National Toxicology Program's review says.
