\n<\/p>\n
Fluoride in drinking water does not affect children\u2019s IQ or decrease cognitive abilities in older adults, according to a new, large-scale study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe find no evidence that [community water fluoridation] is negatively associated with adolescent IQ or adult cognitive functioning,\u201d the study authors wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The findings are in contrast to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy\u2019s announcement<\/a> in April that he would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to revise its long-standing They also contradict previous research, including a Scott Tomar<\/a>, DMD, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association, said this research provides important information for the public at a critical time. Tomar wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cDespite misinformation that is out there, the best available evidence indicates that community water fluoridation has no effect on IQ, cognition, or other measures of neurodevelopment,\u201d said Tomar, who is also a professor and associate dean for Prevention and Public Sciences at the College of Dentistry at the University of Illinois Chicago.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Danelle Fisher<\/a>, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, said the findings confirm previous research on fluoridated water<\/a>. Fisher wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThey reassure us that the use of fluoride in proper amounts does not have any definitive effects on IQ,\u201d she told Healthline. \u201cIt makes a good case for having fluoride in our drinking water.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The new study was led by Rob Warren<\/a>, PhD, a sociologist and population health expert at the University of Minnesota.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Warren used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study<\/a>, which has followed more than 10,000 people in that state since they graduated from high school in 1957. Participants took IQ tests at age 16, then had cognitive testing<\/a> done at ages 53, 64, 72, and 80.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The original purpose of the Wisconsin study wasn\u2019t focused on fluoride so there was no data available on urine or blood tests that would have measured exact levels of fluoride. Warren\u2019s team based their estimates on exposure from records of when community water fluoridation began in certain areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The new findings follow a November 2025 study<\/a> led by Warren that found no link between community water fluoridation in early life and brain function in people at age 60.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Experts note that fluoridation at appropriate levels doesn\u2019t appear to cause any negative health effects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAt the levels of fluoride that we use for community water fluoridation in the United States and other countries, there are no adverse health effects,\u201d Tomar told Healthline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Graham Tse<\/a>, MD, a pediatrician and chief medical officer of MemorialCare Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital in Long Beach, CA, agreed that the low levels of fluoride in U.S. drinking water pose no threat. Tse wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThere is no evidence of any health impacts,\u201d Tse told Healthline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He added that fluoride, like vitamins or other substances, can pose some issues if people are exposed to high levels. \u201cThat\u2019s the case with many, many things,\u201d Tse said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n The health benefits of fluoride in drinking water were In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first state to add fluoride to its municipal water in an effort to help prevent tooth decay. Initial studies reported that tooth decay among Grand Rapids schoolchildren born after 1945 had declined by 60%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In 1962, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended<\/a> fluoridation in drinking water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The CDC Today, more than However, that number is shrinking. Two states \u2014 Utah<\/a> and Florida<\/a> \u2014 have enacted bans on fluoride in drinking water. Several other states, including Kentucky<\/a>, Louisiana<\/a>, Missouri<\/a>, and Oklahoma<\/a>, have pending legislation to limit fluoride.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Fluoride<\/a>, a chemical found in nature as well as in toothpaste<\/a> and drinking water, works by inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause cavities, strengthening the hard outer enamel of teeth, reversing the damage caused by cavities, and supporting new bone formation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Excessive fluoride intake, however, may cause Experts say the benefits of fluoridated water are numerous and widespread.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe have extremely consistent evidence that water fluoridation helps to prevent tooth decay and reduces its severity,\u201d said Tomar. \u201cWe also have very consistent evidence that community water fluoridation saves money for families, communities, and state governments by reducing dental costs and missed days of work or school due to dental problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe primary danger of stopping fluoridation is that the levels of tooth decay, and its related treatment costs will increase,\u201d he added. \u201cThe effects show up first \u2013 and most pronounced \u2013 among the youngest children in the community but ultimately affects everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Among other issues, gum disease<\/a> can affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and increase the risk of heart disease and respiratory infections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In addition, poor dental health can also lead to the development of diabetes<\/a> and other chronic diseases later in life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Poor dental health can also affect<\/a> people with chronic kidney disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Fisher said that cavities can lead to abscesses<\/a> and infections, which can affect any part of the body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cCavities aren\u2019t just little holes in your teeth,\u201d she told Healthline. \u201cInfections can spread and cause a wide variety of problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cOral health isn\u2019t limited to the mouth,\u201d Tse noted. \u201cIt\u2019s connected to overall health.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n CDC officials say there are a Fisher agreed with these recommendations and added a few more suggestions for parents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n She said adults should set a good example for children on regular brushing and flossing. She adds that parents should avoid giving children too many drinks and foods with added sugars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Fisher said babies should never fall asleep while drinking juice or soda from a bottle. That allows sugar to coat their tiny teeth. She added that gummy products can also stick to teeth and should be used sparingly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tse agreed that good dental habits are important for children, as their teeth are still growing. He said that if everyone had access to quality dental care<\/a> and adhered to healthy dental habits every day, then perhaps fluoridated water wouldn\u2019t be necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n