Fluoride in Drinking Water Linked to Lower IQ in Children

A New Report Raises Concerns

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) links high fluoride exposure in drinking water to lower IQ in children. The report, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, reviewed dozens of studies on the relationship between fluoride and IQ.

Key Findings

• The authors found that children exposed to fluoride levels above 1.5 milligrams per liter (mg/L) had an average IQ score that was 2 to 5 points lower than children exposed to lower levels.
• The effect was strongest in children who were exposed to fluoride during early childhood, before their brains were fully developed.
• The authors say that the findings are concerning because fluoride is added to drinking water in many communities across the United States.

The CDC has recommended a fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L in drinking water since 2015. However, some communities have fluoride levels that are higher than this recommendation, and some people are exposed to fluoride from other sources, such as toothpaste and mouthwash.

What This Means for You

If you are concerned about fluoride exposure, you can talk to your doctor or dentist. They can test your fluoride levels and help you make decisions about how to reduce your exposure.

Here are some tips for reducing your exposure to fluoride:

• Drink water from a source that has a fluoride level below 1.5 mg/L.
• Use toothpaste and mouthwash that does not contain fluoride.
• Avoid eating foods that are high in fluoride, such as processed cheese and canned fish.

More Research Needed

The CDC report is not the first to link fluoride exposure to lower IQ. However, more research is needed to confirm the findings and to determine the mechanisms by which fluoride may affect brain development.

In the meantime, the CDC recommends that communities keep fluoride levels in drinking water below 1.5 mg/L. This level is low enough to protect children from the potential risks of fluoride exposure while still providing the benefits of fluoride, which include preventing tooth decay.