The study, published in PNAS, examined Wisconsin state testing records, archival information about when Wisconsin cities began to fluoridate their water, and data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which has followed a random sample of 10,317 high school seniors from 1957 through 2026. Key findings include:
- There is no evidence supporting a connection between community water fluoridation and children’s IQ.
- There is also no evidence supporting a connection between community water fluoridation and cognitive functioning at various points later in life.
- Findings confirm evidence published in previous research which also used a national sample, but considered school achievement test scores instead of actual IQ scores.
I don’t understand why this is such an issue. The water isn’t fluoridated where I live and there is no resulting epidemic of dental caries. It’s not a problem in developed nations.
What’s happened is that there have been tons of conspiracy theorist claims against water fluoridation. These claims are not based on any scientific evidence.
However, valid criticism has also been suppressed and in the process fewer studies have been conducted. The topic has been highly politicized, especially recently.