TEC Info Sheet: Fluoride

Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) is one of the most studied public health interventions, consistently shown to reduce cavities and save money across populations. Large reviews, such as Cochrane’s, find that children and adults in fluoridated areas have fewer cavities, and real-world examples show tooth decay increases when fluoridation stops. The balance point used in the U.S. (about 0.7 mg/L) aims to prevent decay while minimizing cosmetic fluorosis. Economic studies report strong returns on investment, especially in communities with limited dental access. While some prenatal-exposure studies have linked higher fluoride levels to small IQ differences, these typically involve exposures higher than those in U.S. water systems; long-term studies at community fluoridation levels have not found IQ effects.