Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) · 2026
Unpacking X (formerly Twitter) discourse on fluoride and related topics during the 2024 US presidential election.
СтатьяНазвание и аннотация: Перевод пока не подготовлен
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Загрузка состояния…
Ошибки и ограничения
История · было → стало
Состояние обновляется каждые 5 секунд, пока блок открыт. Процент показывается только там, где известен объём работы. Пауза останавливает продолжение этапа; текущий запрос к источнику может завершиться.
Visser Owen, Singhal Naman, Katta Mohit, Pinsky Eugene, Datta Somnath, Singhal Astha
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: Fluoride is a cornerstone of caries prevention, yet public trust in fluoride has become increasingly contested, particularly on social media platforms where health misinformation and political narratives intersect. Understanding how fluoride is discussed online may inform strategies to improve communication and public confidence in oral health interventions.
METHODS: The authors analyzed publicly available posts from X (formerly Twitter) (X Corp) during the 2024 US presidential election that referenced fluoride and related topics. Natural language processing techniques were used to classify post sentiment and emotional tone and to identify dominant discussion themes. Comparisons were made between fluoride-related posts and general posts by the same users to assess differences in sentiment distribution and emotional expression.
RESULTS: Fluoride-related discourse was considerably more negative than general discourse on the platform. Negative sentiment toward fluoride was frequently associated with distrust in government and public health institutions, political polarization, and perceived health risks. Positive discourse emphasized caries prevention, dental products, and evidence-based public health benefits. Users expressing negative sentiments toward fluoride were also more likely to express negative sentiments in non-fluoride-related posts.
CONCLUSIONS: Online discussions about fluoride during a politically charged period reflected broader sociopolitical beliefs and emotional responses rather than isolated concerns about dental science.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dental care professionals should recognize that patient concerns about fluoride may stem from emotionally driven narratives encountered online. Communication strategies that acknowledge concerns while clearly explaining the safety and benefits of fluoride may support effective patient counseling and public engagement.
METHODS: The authors analyzed publicly available posts from X (formerly Twitter) (X Corp) during the 2024 US presidential election that referenced fluoride and related topics. Natural language processing techniques were used to classify post sentiment and emotional tone and to identify dominant discussion themes. Comparisons were made between fluoride-related posts and general posts by the same users to assess differences in sentiment distribution and emotional expression.
RESULTS: Fluoride-related discourse was considerably more negative than general discourse on the platform. Negative sentiment toward fluoride was frequently associated with distrust in government and public health institutions, political polarization, and perceived health risks. Positive discourse emphasized caries prevention, dental products, and evidence-based public health benefits. Users expressing negative sentiments toward fluoride were also more likely to express negative sentiments in non-fluoride-related posts.
CONCLUSIONS: Online discussions about fluoride during a politically charged period reflected broader sociopolitical beliefs and emotional responses rather than isolated concerns about dental science.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dental care professionals should recognize that patient concerns about fluoride may stem from emotionally driven narratives encountered online. Communication strategies that acknowledge concerns while clearly explaining the safety and benefits of fluoride may support effective patient counseling and public engagement.