Australia is one of many countries that fluoridates its water to help its citizens have stronger teeth. According to reports, many Australian cities have been adding fluoride to their water supply since the 1960s, with considerable evidence showing that the natural chemical helps to reduce tooth decay.
Fluoridated Water Is Safe for Developing Children: Study
This ABC News report should allay public concerns about the chemical. According to recent research, drinking fluoridated water is safe and does not even contribute to negative effects on child development.
More than 2,000 kids were monitored in this brand-new study from the University of Queensland, which was just published this week. According to the research head, Loc Do, from the Queensland University School of Dentistry. The study compared the brain function and development of young kids who had access to fluoridated water against those who did not.
They discovered drinking fluoridated tap water did not impair a child's emotional or behavioral development. This finding is consistent with other children living in other areas of Australia.
Drinking water infused with the natural substance did not affect conscious mental activity such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, as well as complex volitional behavior such as speaking and carrying out purposeful movements.
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Simply put, fluoridated water did not affect a child's development or ability to function. In all Australian states and territories, as of March 2012, 70% or more of the population had access to artificially fluoridated drinking water. This will undoubtedly calm many anxious families.
"As a scientist and a health professional, we need to assure the public and policymakers about the safety of the program we use for disease prevention," Professor Do said.
A History of Fluoridated Water and Conspiracy Theories
According to SBS News, the researchers compared water fluoridation to familiar childhood vaccines, concluding that there was overwhelming evidence that the shots were safe for children. Despite this, conspiracy theory groups will continue to oppose vaccinations.
Despite proven benefits, many groups have previously opposed this government-backed health initiative. Some critics in the United States claim that determining fluoride dosages is impossible or that the mineral has negative health effects.
Others argue that fluoridating drinking water is not a cost-effective method of preventing tooth decay. While some associate fluoridation with Cold War communist propaganda from the 1960s.
Despite this, studies show that excessive fluoride exposure can cause dental fluorosis, a condition that commonly affects children aged 8 and under. Such studies compelled the US Food and Drug Administration to revise the fluoride level standard for bottled water in the United States in 2019.
The FDA is responsible for ensuring that the public receives the benefits of fluoride while being protected from its potential negative effects. This is why they reduced the fluoride levels in bottled water if added by manufacturing companies.
