Beyond IQ scores, researchers are investigating links between fluoride and behavioral disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD is a complex condition, but environmental toxins are one suspected contributor – and fluoride has emerged as a potential culprit. In 2015, an ecological study examined ADHD rates across U.S. states in relation to water fluoridation levels. The results were striking: states with more fluoridated water had significantly higher ADHD prevalence, even after adjusting for socioeconomic differences ( Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association - PMC). Living in an “optimally” fluoridated community appeared to increase a child’s risk of developing ADHD. Notably, this correlation was specific to artificial fluoridation; areas with naturally occurring fluoride in water did not show the same ADHD link ( Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association - PMC).
More recently, a 2023 systematic review of fluoride’s neurodevelopmental effects concluded that early-life fluoride exposure may be neurotoxic, potentially contributing to behavioral and cognitive symptoms related to ADHD ( Fluoride Exposure and ADHD: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies - PMC). Several studies in the review found higher fluoride levels correlated with greater inattention, impulsivity, and other ADHD-like symptoms in children. While not every study finds a definitive link, the overall trend suggests fluoride exposure could be one environmental risk factor for ADHD – a possibility that clearly warrants further scrutiny.
Public health officials are starting to take notice. In late 2024, Florida’s Surgeon General issued new guidance against fluoridation, explicitly citing studies that connect fluoride with “ADHD and diminished impulse control” in children, as well as lowered IQ. He went so far as to call ongoing water fluoridation “public health malpractice.” Similarly, in 2024 a U.S. federal judge reviewed extensive evidence on fluoride and brain development, concluding that fluoride in water poses an “unreasonable risk” to children’s developing brains (EPA must address fluoridated water's risk to children's IQs, US judge rules | Reuters). The judge noted a high level of certainty that fluoride is associated with reduced IQ, and he ordered the EPA to reconsider its standards in light of the potential neurodevelopmental harm. These developments underscore that concerns about fluoride and conditions like ADHD are moving from the fringes into the mainstream policy arena.
Fluoride and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Could fluoride exposure also be linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD)? This question is more controversial, but emerging research hints at a possible connection. Autism is a multifactorial condition – genetics play a big role, yet environmental factors are also being explored. A 2019 review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health raised alarms about chronic fluoride exposure as one such factor. The reviewers pointed out that fluoride can cross the placenta and affect the fetal brain, and they outlined biological pathways by which fluoride might contribute to ASD (including metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation) (Does Fluoride Cause Autism? | Rising Above ABA). They noted that countries with longstanding water fluoridation (like the United States, Australia, and Canada) have seen steep rises in autism diagnoses in recent decades ( Chronic Fluoride Exposure and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder - PMC). While that correlation doesn’t prove causation, it suggests that fluoride’s role in neurodevelopment deserves serious examination.
Perhaps the most striking assertion from that 2019 scientific review was the recommendation to remove fluoride as a precaution to see if autism rates improve. The authors stated that reducing daily fluoride exposure “might be an efficient way to prevent an ASD epidemic soon.” They even suggested tracking autism prevalence in children born after the removal of fluoride from drinking water to test this hypothesis. In other words, if a community stops fluoridating its water, does the next generation have lower rates of autism? We don’t have a clear answer yet, but this idea can (and should) be investigated. So far, direct evidence linking fluoride to autism is limited and mixed – some studies report higher ASD rates in high-fluoride areas), while public health agencies like the CDC maintain there’s no proven connection. No one is claiming fluoride “causes” autism outright. However, given fluoride’s known neurotoxicity at elevated doses and its apparent impacts on IQ and behavior, scientists stress that we should not dismiss the autism question. As one review concluded, further research is “necessary to establish clearer connections” between fluoride and ASD risk factors (Does Fluoride Cause Autism? | Rising Above ABA).
Communities Taking Action: What Happens When Fluoridation Stops?
With the scientific debate intensifying, some communities have decided to hit pause on fluoridation in hopes of protecting children’s developing brains. For example, Winter Haven, Florida voted in 2024 to stop adding fluoride to its water – a decision influenced by the very studies we’ve discussed, linking fluoride to IQ loss and ADHD (Florida health official advises communities to stop adding fluoride to drinking water : Shots - Health News : NPR. At a public meeting on the issue, dentist Dr. Lee Sheldon stood before the city council and summed up the concern: “I’m a dentist. I can fix a cavity. I can’t fix cognitive impairment.” Such sentiments echo the feelings of many health-conscious parents and professionals who now question whether the modest tooth decay benefits of fluoridation are worth the potential risks to the brain.
Periodontist Dr. Lee Sheldon speaks at a Melbourne, FL City Council meeting, urging an end to fluoridation. “I can fix a cavity,” he explains, “I can’t fix cognitive impairment.” Dr. Sheldon cited recent research from JAMA Pediatrics linking prenatal fluoride exposure to cognitive deficits.
It’s not just one town in Florida. Around the world, dozens of communities and even entire countries have rejected water fluoridation in recent years. Many European nations never adopted it or discontinued it, opting instead to focus on other dental health measures. In the 1990s, for instance, the Czech Republic ceased its national fluoridation program ( Chronic Fluoride Exposure and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder - PMC). Japan, Germany, Sweden, and most of Western Europe have long had no fluoridation, yet they’ve not seen a dental health apocalypse – their cavity rates are no worse (and in some cases better) than fluoridated countries. This global trend reflects a precautionary principle: if in doubt, leave it out.
So, what happens after a community removes fluoride? In terms of dental effects, results vary – some towns saw slight increases in cavities, while others saw no change, likely due to toothpaste and other sources mitigating the difference. But the key question for this discussion is whether developmental outcomes improve. Rigorous before-and-after studies on cognitive or behavioral metrics are scarce (few communities have tracked ADHD or IQ scores following fluoridation changes). However, researchers have a golden opportunity to find out. As recommended in the ASD review above, scientists can monitor youth in places that recently halted fluoridation (like parts of Florida, or Calgary in Canada which stopped fluoridation for several years) and compare trends in IQ, ADHD diagnoses, and autism rates to similar communities that remained fluoridated. If removing fluoride leads to even small improvements in these metrics over time, that would be a powerful indicator that the neurodevelopmental risks were real. Early anecdotal reports are encouraging – for example, parents in some fluoride-free communities have noted improvements in kids’ attention spans and fewer behavior issues, though such stories are not yet scientifically documented and could be coincidental. The critical point is that these “natural experiments” are unfolding right now, and with proper research we can get answers.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Children’s Health – A Call for Awareness and Research
From a pro-health, precautionary perspective, removing fluoride from public water makes sense. We simply have too many red flags from credible studies to ignore. High-quality research – published in respected journals and reviewed by experts – indicates that fluoride, at levels encountered in everyday life, could be undermining our children’s neurological development. Links to lower IQ are the most firmly established, with multiple meta-analyses pointing to the same conclusion: more fluoride, lower IQ (Children exposed to higher fluoride levels tend to have lower IQs: study | Fox News). Findings related to ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders, while still emerging, are troubling enough that several scientists and public health leaders have joined the call to re-evaluate fluoridation (EPA must address fluoridated water's risk to children's IQs, US judge rules | Reuters). Even if the fluoride-autism connection remains unproven, no responsible parent or policymaker wants to gamble with a possible brain toxin in the water supply.
It’s important to note that calling for fluoride removal is not “anti-science” – in fact, it is grounded in the latest science. Our understanding of fluoride’s effects has evolved since the mid-20th century. Protecting teeth is important, but so is protecting brains. Fortunately, there are other ways to prevent cavities (like topical fluoride in toothpaste, improved diet, and dental care) without medicating an entire population through the water. We should embrace a more nuanced approach that maximizes dental benefits while minimizing systemic exposure.
In conclusion, I strongly support a pause or end to community water fluoridation until we are certain it poses no harm to children’s developing brains. This is a reasonable, responsible stance based on the evidence at hand. I urge more parents to educate themselves on this issue, and for public health agencies to fund and conduct the rigorous studies needed to resolve the remaining uncertainties. Our kids deserve the safest environment possible. We need to ask tough questions about long-accepted practices – and be willing to change course if the science demands it. Removing fluoride from drinking water, at least temporarily, is a proactive step to ensure we aren’t inadvertently sacrificing children’s long-term neurological well-being for small short-term gains in dental health. Let’s keep pushing for greater awareness, open-minded research, and policies that put children’s health first.
Sources:
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Harvard School of Public Health – Impact of Fluoride on Neurological Development in Children
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Fox News Digital – Children exposed to higher fluoride levels have lower IQs, study reveals
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2019) – Strunecka et al., Chronic Fluoride Exposure and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Environmental Health (2015) – Malin & Till, State water fluoridation prevalence and ADHD prevalence
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023) – Filippini et al., Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and ADHD
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Central Florida Public Media – More Florida communities are pulling back from fluoride (Jan 2025)
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Reuters – EPA must address fluoridated water’s risk to children’s IQs, US judge rules (Sept 2024)