Too much fluoride might lower IQ in kids?

In summary, research suggests that excessive fluoride exposure during early childhood may be linked to lower IQ levels in children. Studies indicate that high fluoride levels, often associated with certain water supplies and dental products, could negatively impact cognitive development. However, the findings are contentious, and more research is needed to establish a clear causal relationship and to understand the implications for public health policies regarding fluoride use.
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  • #2
I just read some of that article. That makes me wonder, would just using fluoride in toothpaste be enough? Should the fluoride really need to be drank in the water? I would think the superfical exposure to be what is necessary; yes or no?
 
  • #3
If the Voxsplainers told me my mother loved me, I would want to check it out.
 
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  • #4
symbolipoint said:
That makes me wonder, would just using fluoride in toothpaste be enough?
I think the underlying assumption is that some segments of the population don't reliably use toothpaste. Adding it to water is a bit of insurance.
 
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  • #5
symbolipoint said:
would just using fluoride in toothpaste be enough?
Fluoridated water makes fluoridated saliva. Unless you brush your teeth 1000x per day, this is an advantage.
 
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  • #6
symbolipoint said:
I just read some of that article. That makes me wonder, would just using fluoride in toothpaste be enough? Should the fluoride really need to be drank in the water? I would think the superfical exposure to be what is necessary; yes or no?
Bad teeth or bad brain, seems like a bit of Sophie's choice.
Reminds of when the consensus in 2020 was that alcohol 'killed' or at least rendered SARS-CoV-2 not viable.
So, if we kept a certain level of alcohol in our system all the time we gain some protection?
It was tongue in cheek, it was a strange time.
Fresh 42 replied, "Unless you are considering gargling with Bourbon every 15 minutes that would probably not work."
The man had a point.
 
  • #7
According to wiki, only 2% of europeans have fluoridated municipal water, and most of that is in the UK. (ref)

wiki said:
Many European countries have rejected water fluoridation, including: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, Iceland, and Italy. A 2003 survey of over 500 Europeans from 16 countries concluded that "the vast majority of people opposed water fluoridation".

Sounds like a 'U.S.' centric topic.
Anyways, I recall being involved in a 'fluoride' conversation in the past:

PF: Portlandia has struck again: fluoride in water

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The mayor of Portland, Ore., has conceded defeat in an effort to add fluoride to the city's drinking water.

hmmm.... Maybe that's why I'm so smart! For most of my life I've drank non-fluoridated water.
 
  • #8
OmCheeto said:
Maybe that's why I'm so smart! For most of my life I've drank non-fluoridated water.
Smart, maybe. Grammatical, no

“Have” is the helping verb for the present perfect tense, and we form the present perfect by using have/has + the past participle. The past participle of drink is drunk. So we always say have drunk, never “have drank.”

grammar-police-badge-SMALL.jpg
 
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  • #9
I have drunk the Kool-Aid, and therefore will die.
I drank the Kool-Aid, and therefore will die.
I did drink the Kool-Aid, and therefore will die.

Ok. I think I've got it, for now.

Yesterday, I couldn't remember if I had eaten diner or dinner, even though up until the 10th of last month I always got it right.
I'm monitoring my descent into senility by keeping a diary.

I actually vacillated over whether or not to use "That's why I used to be so smart..." in my above post. I look at my posts from years ago and no longer recognize that person.
 
  • #10
OmCheeto said:
I'm monitoring my descent into senility by keeping a diary.
I've given up on that --- too depressing.
 
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