Consuming water with fluoride at levels used for public supplies is safe: study reassures

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Oct 10 2022

Research from The University of Queensland has found no link between community water fluoridation and adverse effects on children's brain development.

Professor Loc Do from UQ's School of Dentistry said the study examined the difference between the brain development and function of children who'd been exposed to fluoridated water in early childhood with those who weren't.

We found emotional and behavioral development, and functions such as memory and self-control, were at least equivalent to those who had no exposure to fluoridated water. In other words, there was no difference in child development and function related to fluoridated water. This finding shows that consuming water with fluoride at levels used for public supplies in Australia is safe and it supports continuing and expanding fluoridation programs."

Loc Do, Professor, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland

Currently, approximately 90 per cent of the Australian population has access to fluoridated water, although in Queensland it is 71 per cent.

Many regional Queensland areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are not covered by a fluoridation program.

"A small but vocal group of people sometimes claims that water fluoridation can have adverse neurodevelopment effects, especially in young children," Professor Do said.

"This concern can impact community and public health support for the practice, but our research provides reassurance that it is safe and supports its expansion into more communities.

"This is an important message because fluoride is extremely effective in preventing tooth decay and its use in water and toothpaste is credited with significant improvements in child dental health in Australia."

Dental caries (also known as tooth decay or dental cavities) is the most common chronic childhood disease worldwide causing pain and infection and can lead to tooth extraction.

The UQ study followed up child participants of Australia's National Child Oral Health study 2012-2014 when they were aged 12 to 17 years.

It measured their emotional and behavioral development using a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and executive brain function using the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function - both instruments widely used in population health surveys.

The study was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Project grant, and it is a collaboration between The University of Queensland, University of Adelaide and University of Western Australia in Australia, along with the University of Bristol in the UK.