• A pediatric dentist warns that fluoride in drinking water is toxic industrial waste, potentially harming children’s neurological development.
• Studies link fluoride exposure to lower IQ scores in children, even at levels below current U.S. safety guidelines.
• Fluoride’s dental benefits have declined sharply since the 1970s due to widespread fluoride toothpaste use.
• Multiple states are banning water fluoridation, with federal support growing under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Critics argue that fluoridation lacks individual consent and poses risks like thyroid disease and bone damage.

A respected pediatric dentist is challenging the decades-old practice of adding fluoride to public drinking water, describing it as “hazardous waste” that may be causing significant neurological harm to children across America.

Dr. Staci Whitman, a board-certified pediatric dentist and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, has revealed that fluoride added to municipal water is actually a toxic byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry that requires specialized handling protocols.

“Everyone can go research this and look for themselves, but it does come in cement bags with skull and crossbones on the front and they do have to wear hazmat suits to put it into our water,” Dr. Whitman explained in a recent interview with Stanford Medicine professor Dr. Andrew Huberman.

The concerning revelations come as over 60% of Americans consume fluoridated water daily, a practice that began in the 1940s to prevent tooth decay but is now being questioned by both medical professionals and lawmakers in multiple states.

Scientific studies link fluoride to lower IQ in children

Recent scientific research has strengthened concerns about fluoride’s impact on neurological development. A January 2024 analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics examined 74 studies and found consistent links between higher fluoride exposure and lower IQ scores in children. For every 1 mg/L increase in urinary fluoride concentration, researchers documented a 1.63-point decrease in IQ.

More alarming is the finding that cognitive issues appear in children exposed to levels below 2 mg/L, which falls within current U.S. safety guidelines. Dr. Whitman discovered many communities are exposing residents to fluoride concentrations as high as 2.2 mg/L, which is well above the government’s target range of 0.7 mg/L.

The findings support previous research from the U.S. and Canadian governments showing that a 1 mg per day increase in fluoride consumption during pregnancy is associated with a 3.7-point decrease in children’s IQ. Another study found that infants fed formula mixed with fluoridated water showed a 4.4-point lower IQ score compared to those given formula prepared with unfluoridated water.

Diminishing benefits as modern alternatives emerge

While fluoride’s risks are becoming clearer, its benefits appear to be waning. A comprehensive review by the Cochrane Collaboration in October 2024 found the cavity-fighting effectiveness of fluoridated water has dramatically decreased since the 1970s.

The review revealed that in studies conducted after 1975, children drinking fluoridated water had just 0.24 fewer decayed baby teeth than those in non-fluoridated areas—a significant drop from the 2.1 fewer decayed teeth documented in pre-1975 studies. Researchers attribute this decline to the widespread availability of fluoride toothpaste, which delivers targeted protection without the systemic exposure associated with drinking water.

Dr. Whitman’s position reflects growing concern among healthcare providers about the inconsistency in fluoride levels across American water systems and the lack of individual consent to what she describes as “medication” added to public water supplies.

States taking action as federal support grows

Florida and Utah have already passed legislation banning the addition to state water supplies, with Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas making similar efforts. These moves align with the position of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly supported removing fluoride from public water systems.

“Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” Kennedy wrote on social media in November. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed expectations that federal health regulators will follow his state’s lead in eliminating water fluoridation nationwide.

As the debate intensifies, more Americans are questioning whether a practice that began 80 years ago still serves public health in the modern era. With mounting evidence of neurological harm, diminishing dental benefits, and viable alternatives like fluoride toothpaste readily available, the future of water fluoridation in America appears increasingly uncertain.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

WDSU.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org