Explainer: Does Fluoride Cause Cancer as Claimed by Pastor Chris? Not According to Scientific Evidence!
BY: Mustapha Lawal
A recent video of popular Nigerian pastor; Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy, has reignited an old and widely debunked health claim: that fluoride causes cancer.
During a March 2025 global communion service, Pastor Chris urged his followers to avoid any product, particularly toothpaste and milk, that contains fluoride, alleging it is “one of the main causes of cancer.”
“God sent me to save your life, and that is why I am bringing this information to you. The next time you are buying milk, look at the. If you find fluoride there, drop it. Next time you buy toothpaste, check what it contains; if it says fluoride, don’t take it. Fluoride is one of the main causes of cancer. Because if you take it, you are programming yourself to have cancer and several other diseases,” Oyakilome said.
Screenshot of a keyframe from the video.
A keyword search of the claim and the claimant showed that the video had been going viral for weeks on social media. Some of which are found here, here, here, here, here, and here. This draws concern due to the pastor’s large following and the viral spread of health misinformation
But is there any scientific truth behind this claim? FactCheckAfrica examined the available scientific evidence to clarify the facts.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, plants, and certain foods. It is best known for its role in preventing tooth decay. According to the American Dental Association, fluoride strengthens enamel and reverses early signs of tooth decay by aiding in remineralization. Most over-the-counter toothpastes contain fluoride, and many countries, including Nigeria, fluoridate their water supplies for public dental health benefits. See: National Cancer Institute – Myths about Fluoridated Water
The Claim vs. the Science
Pastor Chris’s claim that fluoride causes cancer mirrors a long-standing public health conspiracy theory that has been repeatedly refuted by medical science.
According to an article by the National Cancer Institute, research into fluoride and its link to cancer is ongoing, with little evidence that fluoride is harmful or causes cancer.
While high levels of fluoride exposure have been linked to certain non-cancer health concerns, including dental fluorosis (discoloration of teeth), skeletal fluorosis (a rare bone disease), thyroid problems, neurological problems, acne and other skin problems, cardiovascular problems, including arteriosclerosis and arterial calcification, high blood pressure, myocardial damage, cardiac insufficiency, heart failure, reproductive issues and other complications in extreme cases. Howeever, there is no conclusive evidence that fluoride causes cancer in humans.
One of the concerns raised about fluoride and cancer stemmed from a National Toxicology Program (NTP) study, which found “equivocal evidence” of carcinogenicity in male rats due to rare bone tumours (osteosarcomas).
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Dental Research found no significant association between bone fluoride levels and osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer), which had been previously speculated upon in a few animal studies. Further See: Cancer.org – Water Fluoridation and Cancer Risk
A study on “Exposure to fluoride and risk of primary bone cancer: A systematic review” revealed that 85 per cent, that is, 12 out of the 14 studies reviewed, did not support a link between fluoride ingestion and the development of bone cancers. This review, however, included a disclaimer noting that most studies had low methodological quality, affecting their findings’ reliability.
A 2011 Journal of Dental Research study found no significant association between bone fluoride levels and osteosarcoma risk. According to the American Cancer Society, “More than 50 population-based studies, including those in the U.S., have not shown an increased risk of cancer from fluoridated drinking water.”
In a related Pensacola News Journal report, public health officials noted that fluoride is one of the most studied and scrutinized substances in public health and continues to be recommended due to its significant dental health benefits.
Conclusion
While excessive fluoride exposure can lead to health complications like fluorosis, the overwhelming body of scientific research does not support any claim that fluoride is a carcinogen. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s assertion that fluoride is “one of the main causes of cancer” is misleading, unproven, and potentially harmful, especially if it causes people to stop using toothpaste or reject fluoridated water that protects against tooth decay.
