Studies reaffirm fluoride safety, benefits: 10 things to know

Multiple recent studies reaffirm the safety and efficacy of fluoride, finding no connection between fluoride levels and lower IQ scores, according to an April 15 news release from the American Dental Association. 

Here are 10 things to know:

1. Multiple U.S.-based analyses have shown that fluoride at the recommended levels does not impact cognition in adolescents or later in adult life. 
2. The ADA published a two-part series in The Journal of the American Dental Association, which found that optimally fluoridated water does not negatively affect IQ scores and can significantly reduce tooth decay. 
3. Community water fluoridation typically reduced tooth decay by about 25%, and ending water fluoridation led to higher caries levels and increased needs for restorative care, the studies showed. 
4. The two U.S. studies had similar results to research in Australia and New Zealand, which have comparable fluoride levels. 
5. Another study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first in the U.S. to track childhood exposure to community water fluoridation and its potential cognitive effects in adolescence through age 80.
6. In August 2024, a report from the National Toxicology Program concluded with “moderate confidence” that higher levels of fluoride exposure are associated with lower IQ in children. 
7. Following the report, a federal judge ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency must address the impact that fluoride has in drinking water. 
8. More than 200 health professional organizations and research bodies came together in April 2025 to back the safety of fluoride. 
9. In February 2026, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., introduced a resolution to affirm the safety and efficacy of the use of fluoride in the U.S.
10. Read the full JADA studies here and here. 

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