What Does the EPA Say About Fluoride?

July 17th, 2023 Facts about Fluoride, Fluoride and Public Health, Fluoride in water, What the Experts Say about Fluoride

Like any vitamin or trace element, fluoride in water must be properly balanced for maximum benefit to prevent tooth decay. The recommend amount of fluoride in water is currently 0.7 parts per million, a level that prevents both cavities and fluorosis. Although fluoride occurs naturally in all water, in the U.S. it rarely exceeds the […]


Fluoride Toothpaste Recommendations for Children Under Age 6

December 12th, 2022 Children's Oral Health and Fluoride, Facts about Fluoride, What the Experts Say about Fluoride

fluoride toothpaste; children; toothpaste for children; toothpaste recommendations

Since 2014, the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) have all recommended fluoride toothpaste. They advise parents and caregivers to use a rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste for children under the age of 3 and to begin brushing twice a day from the […]


Australian Study Shows No Link Between Cognitive Development and Fluoridated Water

October 12th, 2022 Children's Oral Health and Fluoride, Facts about Fluoride, Fluoride and Public Health

Boy Drinking from Sippy Cup

A new study from Australia strengthens confidence in the safety of fluoridated water with regard to the cognitive and behavioral development of children. The study found no link between greater exposure to fluoridated water and lower scores on key measures of emotional and behavioral development. Drawing from data on more than 2,600 children, this study […]


US Public Health Service Dental Officers Affirm Fluoridation on 75th Anniversary

July 14th, 2020 Communities Supporting Fluoride, Fluoride and Public Health, What the Experts Say about Fluoride

75th Anniversary Logo

    To commemorate the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation (CWF), eight former United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Dental Officers have issued a statement affirming this public health practice. “Community water fluoridation is the great equalizer in prevention of dental caries because all individuals regardless of income or education are able to access […]


Maternal Fluoride & Children’s IQ

September 12th, 2019 Fluoride and Public Health, Fluoride in the News

Fluoride in water is an important way to prevent tooth decay, which causes millions of lost hours of work and school each year. We know from seven decades of scientific research that an optimal level of fluoride in water is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay by at least 25% in both children and adults. Children […]


AAP continues to recommend fluoride following new study on maternal intake and child IQ

August 19th, 2019 Facts about Fluoride, Fluoride and Public Health, Fluoride in the News

A new study published by JAMA Pediatrics on August 19, 2019, “Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada”, found maternal exposure to higher levels of fluoride during pregnancy was associated with lower IQ scores in children aged 3 to 4 years. The study authors concluded that the findings […]


Initial Observations on the Prenatal Fluoride Exposure Study

September 21st, 2017 Facts about Fluoride, Fluoride in the News, What the Experts Say about Fluoride

Prenatal; fluoride; exposure

A new study published by Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) reports data from Mexico showing an association between higher fluoride urine levels among pregnant women and lower cognitive function among their offspring. This study is a welcome addition to scientific inquiry on the effects of fluoride. Using mother-child pairs, the study, Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive […]


Lessons to Guide Local Advocates

January 26th, 2016 Facts about Fluoride, Fluoride and Public Health, What the Experts Say about Fluoride

Although most attempts to end community water fluoridation (CWF) fail, these challenges continue to arise. Over the past 12 months, critics have attacked the practice in a number of communities — from Denver, Colorado to Collier County, Florida. Fortunately, the scientific evidence is on our side. But is that enough? Sometimes the science is enough […]


The Cochrane Review of Community Water Fluoridation

June 22nd, 2015 Facts about Fluoride, Fluoride in the News

In October 2000, the U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force recommended community water fluoridation (CWF). In April 2013, the Task Force reaffirmed this recommendation and cited “strong evidence” of CWF’s ability to reduce the rate of tooth decay. A new review by the Cochrane Oral Health Group Review concludes that the introduction of CWF “resulted […]