The American Dental Association is pushing back against claims from the Trump administration that Tylenol could be linked to autism, stressing that peer-reviewed science shows acetaminophen is safe.
“Acetaminophen is well studied and proven to be safe for use in pregnancy and is one of the few medicines available to pregnant individuals for pain relief and treatment of acute dental pain,” the association said in a statement. “Science does not support claims that acetaminophen use during pregnancy leads to autism.”
The ADA cited recent research, including a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association titled Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability, which found no association between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and children’s risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also concluded earlier this year that there is no clear evidence linking acetaminophen to fetal developmental issues.
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The statement followed a Sept. 22 press conference where President Donald Trump said the administration would issue warnings against doctors recommending acetaminophen during pregnancy, despite its widespread use to manage fever and pain. Trump appeared alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz.
The ADA recommends nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with or without acetaminophen, as first-line treatments for acute dental pain in adolescents 12 and older. For pregnant and nursing patients, it urges dentists and physicians to review options individually and weigh potential effects or drug interactions.
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