NEW YORK, May 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. health regulators have announced they are beginning to remove ingestible fluoride supplements for children from the market, the latest move by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to target the tooth-strengthening mineral.

Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, air, and various foods, helps prevent dental cavities and tooth decay. The mineral has been added to public water supplies for decades in the United States and to dental products, such as toothpaste, as a dental cavities prevention measure.

In a news release on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is starting to phase out "concentrated ingestible fluoride prescription drug products" from the market. Fluoride supplements are typically prescribed to children at high risk of dental cavities and tooth decay, or who live in areas where their drinking water is not fluoridated.

The agency noted that the supplements, taken orally with tablets or drops, are not approved by the FDA. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary also suggested the supplements may alter a child's gut microbiome, and cited studies that show a possible link between ingested fluoride and "thyroid disorders, weight gain, and possibly decreased IQ."

"Ending the use of ingestible fluoride is long overdue," Kennedy said in a statement. "This decision brings us one step closer to delivering on President Trump's promise to Make America Healthy Again."