Is Fluoride in Drinking Water Making Kids Less Intelligent?
As parents, part of our duty is to ensure our kids drink enough water—whether that’s filling their water bottles for school, jazzing up plain water with fruit, or finding other creative ways to keep them hydrated throughout the day. But what if something in our water is secretly stunting their learning and reasoning ability?
According to a recent U.S. government report, this could be the case. The culprit? Fluoride—yes, the mineral added to our water supplies for decades to improve dental health, especially in kids. Per the report, fluoride levels at twice the recommended limit are linked to lower IQ in children. While previous studies have long hinted at this connection, this is the first time a federal agency has officially confirmed it.
But just how serious are the risks? Should you be worried about fluoride in your home’s tap water? And if so, what can you do about it? We’ll address all of these concerns in this article. But first, here’s a quick refresher on what fluoride is and why it’s in our water in the first place.
What is Fluoride, and Why Is It Added to Drinking Water?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral commonly found in water and soil. It’s mainly known for protecting teeth from decay by rebuilding and strengthening the tooth surface—hence the nickname “Nature’s Cavity Fighter.” Because of its cavity-fighting and enamel-strengthening abilities, you’ll find fluoride in many dental products and drinking water.
Yes, you read it right–community water fluoridation, or adding optimal amounts of fluoride to a public water supply, started in the U.S. in 1945. This practice began after scientists noticed that people living in areas with naturally higher fluoride levels in their water had fewer cavities. This discovery triggered a push to get more Americans to use fluoride for better dental health.
Today, many states require larger community water systems to add fluoride to provide dental health benefits to entire communities through something we all use daily—water.
Why Was the Study Conducted?
U.S. municipalities have added fluoride to community water systems for over eight decades to reduce tooth decay. And it’s been quite effective—the American Dental Association (ADA) says drinking fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by up to 25% in children and adults. That’s a significant benefit, especially considering the high cost of dental care.
The concern, however, was that we might have been getting more fluoride than our bodies needed or could safely process. Think about it; fluoride isn’t just in our drinking water anymore. It’s in dental products (e.g., toothpaste, floss, and mouth rinses) and many prepared beverages and foods we consume daily. This combined fluoride intake may exceed safe amounts for pregnant women and kids.
After more research continued to raise questions, the National Toxicity Program (NTP) conducted a massive systematic review of scientific literature about connections between fluoride exposure and possible declines in children’s neurodevelopmental and cognitive abilities. The report included studies from five countries: Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico. The NTP then put together a 324-page report with their findings.
The Report’s Findings: Does Fluoride in Drinking Water Lower Kids’ IQ?
Of 19 high-quality studies examining links between fluoride exposure and child IQs, “18 reported an inverse association between estimated fluoride exposure and IQ in children.” Considering this, the NTP concluded that drinking more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is consistently linked to lower IQ in children.
It’s important to note that the review examined total fluoride exposure from various sources, so it did not solely measure the health effects of drinking fluoridated water. Furthermore, the study authors say there was insufficient data to determine whether the recommended fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L for U.S. water supplies lowers children’s IQ.
Also, the report did not specify precisely how many IQ points kids might lose at different levels of fluoride exposure. However, some studies suggested a decrease of 2 to 5 points in children exposed to higher fluoride levels. It also did not mention whether it would also impact adults’ IQ.
How Much of America’s Drinking Water is Fluoridated, and What are the Guidelines for Fluoride Intake?
As of 2020, an estimated 72.7% of the U.S. population served by community water systems have fluoridated water. However, the report said about 0.6% of the population—about 1.9 million people—are on water systems with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams or higher.
As for how much fluoride is allowed in the water, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) recommends 0.7 mg/L as that amount “maximizes fluoride’s oral health benefits while minimizing potential harms, such as dental fluorosis.” This recommendation was updated in 2015, lowering it from the previous range of 0.7-1.2 mg/L that had been in place since 1962.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set two standards for fluoride levels in public drinking water systems:
- Primary Standard: The EPA’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) for fluoride in drinking water is 4.0 mg/L. This enforceable limit is believed to help protect against skeletal fluorosis, a rare bone disease caused by excessive fluoride intake.
- Secondary Standard: A non-enforceable guideline of 2.0 mg/L in areas with high levels of naturally occurring fluoride to reduce incidences of dental fluorosis in children younger than Community water systems exceeding the secondary standard but not the primary one must notify the public within 12 months.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water in the U.S., allows up to 2.4 mg/L in naturally fluoridated bottled water in colder regions. The maximum allowed for bottled water with added fluoride is 0.7 mg/L.
Should Parents Be Concerned About Fluoride in Drinking Water?
Based on the study findings, it’s not clear whether a child who drinks fluoridated water will get a worse report card in school. It also did not say whether drinking water with fluoride levels at the recommended 0.7 mg/L has a measurable effect on IQ.
Until further research clarifies this, consider reducing the amount of fluoride your kids are getting in the water at home (particularly if you’re making infant formula with highly fluoridated tap water). Meanwhile, you can limit foods, beverages, or anything else that could sabotage your child’s teeth and, if possible, ensure regular visits to the dentist as recommended.
Yes, there are clear dental benefits from fluoride in water. However, as too much water or vitamins can be dangerous, the same applies to fluoride. Not only can high fluoride levels potentially affect your child’s brain development, but studies (such as this one) show that high amounts can lead to other unwanted conditions, including:
- dental fluorosis
- skeletal fluorosis
- arthritis
- bone damage
- osteoporosis
- muscular damage
- fatigue
- joint-related problems
Besides, ingesting too much fluoride can indirectly lead to other certain conditions that could ultimately affect a child’s cognitive ability. For instance, fluoride has been proven to disrupt thyroid function, which is vital for proper brain development. It’s also said that fluoride can increase lead absorption and toxicity, possibly leading to lead poisoning.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children exposed to even small amounts of lead may appear inattentive, hyperactive, and irritable. Those at greater exposure may also have problems with learning and reading, delayed growth, and hearing loss. At high levels, lead can cause permanent brain damage and even death.
How Do I Know If There’s Fluoride in My Drinking Water?
The natural fluoride levels in water can sometimes exceed recommended safety thresholds in certain areas. Although public water systems are required to keep fluoride levels within specified limits, private wells are often unmonitored and unregulated.
Here’s how to tell if your water contains fluoride:
- Check your drinking water source.
If you receive water from a municipality, it likely contains fluoride, as roughly 73% of the U.S. population in community water systems receives fluoridated water. Water from private wells may contain naturally occurring fluoride, but levels can vary significantly.
- Obtain a water quality report (if applicable).
If you have public water, your local water utility must provide an annual water quality report, including fluoride levels in the water supplied to your neighborhood. The CDC’s website offers a My Water’s Fluoride (MWF) resource that allows consumers to learn about their drinking water’s fluoride level, the number of people the water system serves, the water supply source, and if the water municipality fluoridates its supply.
- Test your drinking water.
The most reliable way to know if fluoride is present in your drinking water is to check it with a water test kit. DIY test kits typically involve dipping a test strip into a water sample and comparing the color to a chart.
For more accurate results (though usually at a higher cost), you can have your water tested by a reputable laboratory. Some provide water test kits to collect the water sample from your home and send it to the lab for testing. Laboratory testing is the preferred choice for most private well users as it gives a clearer picture of the water quality.
How Do I Reduce the Amount of Fluoride in My Drinking Water?
So, a water test shows your drinking water contains above-normal fluoride levels. No need to stress—there’s a solution that doesn’t involve lugging home bottles of water from the store. You only need a water filtration system to remove unwanted elements like fluoride.
Reverse osmosis filters are considered the most effective for removing fluoride from water, eliminating as much as 99%. They are also designed to eliminate other contaminants that are incredibly toxic to children.
RO systems work by forcing the water through a semipermeable membrane. This membrane has tiny pores, allowing only water molecules to pass through. Contaminants larger than water molecules, including fluoride ions, are blocked and flushed away.
If you need help finding the best fluoride removal filter or want to learn more about our offerings, call Springwell today at 800-589-5592 or message us via our support page or the chat feature on our website.
Final Thoughts
Fluoride has been in our drinking water for ages. And sure, we all want our kids to have healthy teeth. But we can’t ignore the potential impact of fluoride on their IQ. While we do need more and better research on fluoride’s neurological effects, the NTP report suggests a possible risk from high levels in kids—one we need to take very seriously.
Fluoride isn’t all bad. There’s power in it at the proper doses. But if you’re concerned about the amount in your drinking water, consider testing the water. Depending on the results, you can filter it from the water until your local water utility finds that cavity-fighting, intelligence-conserving sweet spot.
