A major 2025 systematic review published in JAMA Pediatrics has reignited the fierce debate over fluoride safety, revealing associations between high fluoride exposure and reduced IQ in children.
Story Highlights
- JAMA Pediatrics review finds fluoride linked to lower IQ scores, though at levels higher than typical US water supplies
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and health advocates intensify calls for fluoride removal from public water systems
- Growing consumer demand drives fluoride-free oral care market expansion amid safety concerns
- Public health agencies maintain current fluoridation levels are safe while acknowledging need for continued research
Scientific Evidence Challenges Decades of Fluoride Policy
The 2025 JAMA Pediatrics systematic review analyzed multiple studies and confirmed a statistically significant association between elevated urinary fluoride levels and decreased IQ scores in children. This peer-reviewed research builds upon a landmark 2012 Harvard meta-analysis that first identified similar neurodevelopmental risks at high fluoride exposures, primarily documented in Chinese populations with naturally occurring high fluoride levels.
The National Toxicology Program released a concurrent report echoing these findings, though both studies emphasize that most adverse effects occurred at fluoride concentrations exceeding typical US water supply levels. Currently, over 90% of American toothpaste brands contain fluoride, and most municipal water systems maintain fluoride at the federally recommended 0.7 mg/L level.
🚨RFK Jr. called to STOP adding fluoride to our water!
“The evidence against fluoride is now overwhelming. … We know that it causes profound IQ loss … and other neurological injuries like ADHD.” pic.twitter.com/flbUNgkb1x
— Died Suddenly (@DiedSuddenly_) April 8, 2025
Conservative Health Advocates Sound the Alarm
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has emerged as a prominent voice challenging fluoride’s widespread use, arguing that pharmaceutical industry interests have influenced public health recommendations for decades. His warnings align with growing conservative concerns about government overreach in public health policy and the need to protect American families from potentially harmful interventions mandated without adequate long-term safety data.
Multiple US cities have already voted to remove fluoride from their water supplies following grassroots campaigns by concerned parents and local activists. These efforts reflect broader conservative principles about individual choice, parental rights, and skepticism toward one-size-fits-all government mandates that may not serve the best interests of local communities.
Watch: Does Fluoride Lower IQ Scores? – YouTube
Market Response to Consumer Health Concerns
The fluoride controversy has sparked significant growth in the alternative oral care market, with companies like The Wellness Company introducing fluoride-free products such as SMILE toothpaste. These alternatives appeal to health-conscious consumers seeking regenerative approaches to oral health rather than relying solely on cavity prevention through chemical intervention.
Traditional pharmaceutical giants including GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson & Johnson, which dominate the fluoride-based oral care market, face increasing pressure to diversify their product lines. The economic implications extend beyond individual companies, as reduced fluoridation could potentially increase dental treatment costs if cavity rates rise, though proponents of fluoride-free alternatives dispute this outcome.
Sources:
PMC – Fluoride Toxicology Review
JAMA Pediatrics – Systematic Review of Fluoride and Neurodevelopment
Harvard School of Public Health – Fluoride and Children’s Health
NYU – Facts and Fears About Fluoride
Yale School of Public Health – Fluoride Information
