It was only a few years ago that if you labeled fluoride as a dangerous substance, you would be laughed at and scorned. For years, a select minority of individuals were the only ones raising the awareness of this health concern. Their cries have been and continue to be met with dissonance, despite the fact that the public’s opinion on fluoride has changed much in just a short time. In fact, even the United States government has called for lower levels of water fluoridation following a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, which found that increased fluoride consumption led to decreased IQ in children.
Of course it is important to note that there is a difference between topical fluoride exposure and internal consumption. With topical fluoride exposure, the amount of actual internal exposure can be minimal. However, many forms of fluoride exposure are through the internal digestion of the substance that has been linked to reduced IQ in major studies. Fluoride tablets have been distributed to children in public schools, leading to the complete digestion of the substance, as opposed to topical use.