Analyzing nearly 11.5 million births across four decades, researchers use rigorous methods to show that fluoridated drinking water is not linked to lower birth weight.
Study: Community Water Fluoridation and Birth Outcomes. Image credit: Tatjana Meininger/Shutterstock.com
While fluoridated water is widely considered a public health benefit, its potential association with reduced birth weight has often raised concern. A recent study published online on JAMA Network Open explores this question in a large nationwide study.
Fluoridated water’s benefits and long-standing health concerns
The concept of community water fluoridation (CWF) is based on the observation that naturally higher water fluoride levels are associated with lower rates of dental caries at the community level. This large-scale public…