Meryl Horn (Senior Producer, PhD)

Researchers aren't really like coalescing around one thing that is happening.

Researchers aren't really like coalescing around one thing that is happening.

In general, IQs have been going up in places like the U.S.

In general, IQs have been going up in places like the U.S.

And even one researcher who thinks that there is something here estimated that the difference between growing up in a community with fluoridated water and not is only the difference of two and a half IQ points. So that feels like not that big a deal.

And even one researcher who thinks that there is something here estimated that the difference between growing up in a community with fluoridated water and not is only the difference of two and a half IQ points. So that feels like not that big a deal.

Well, I live in New York City and we do have fluoridated water here. Right. But, like, I haven't stopped drinking it. Like, I'm not worried about it for my brain or my kids' brains. Like, I just don't think the evidence is there yet. But I do think that if I were pregnant, like... If I had known all this when I was pregnant, then I would have avoided drinking fluoridated water then. Really?

Well, I live in New York City and we do have fluoridated water here. Right. But, like, I haven't stopped drinking it. Like, I'm not worried about it for my brain or my kids' brains. Like, I just don't think the evidence is there yet. But I do think that if I were pregnant, like... If I had known all this when I was pregnant, then I would have avoided drinking fluoridated water then. Really?

I don't know. I've talked to enough researchers on this pregnancy thing specifically that say, you know, they would not do it. They would not drink fluoridated water. It freaks me out now, yeah.

I don't know. I've talked to enough researchers on this pregnancy thing specifically that say, you know, they would not do it. They would not drink fluoridated water. It freaks me out now, yeah.

I mean, it's really hard, right? Because in theory, like, you could try bottled water, but we don't actually know a lot of the time how much fluoride is in bottled water. Some of it might have fluoride in it too.

I mean, it's really hard, right? Because in theory, like, you could try bottled water, but we don't actually know a lot of the time how much fluoride is in bottled water. Some of it might have fluoride in it too.

Like, I think... It's not perfect, but like I would probably look into a filter. There's some filters that get fluoride out of the water. Or honestly, if it was just for a limited period of time, like if I were pregnant, maybe I would just buy distilled water that didn't have any fluoride in it and like try to drink that.

Like, I think... It's not perfect, but like I would probably look into a filter. There's some filters that get fluoride out of the water. Or honestly, if it was just for a limited period of time, like if I were pregnant, maybe I would just buy distilled water that didn't have any fluoride in it and like try to drink that.

But, like, this is all probably being super cautious since tons of kids are exposed to fluoride in the uterus and don't have these behavioral issues. And there are just still some big unknowns.

But, like, this is all probably being super cautious since tons of kids are exposed to fluoride in the uterus and don't have these behavioral issues. And there are just still some big unknowns.

Well, it's not just about the brain here. Like some people are worrying that fluoride might be making our bones weaker or increasing our risk of thyroid disease, like hypothyroidism. Yeah. And there is some evidence that that stuff is real, too, even at relatively low levels.

Well, it's not just about the brain here. Like some people are worrying that fluoride might be making our bones weaker or increasing our risk of thyroid disease, like hypothyroidism. Yeah. And there is some evidence that that stuff is real, too, even at relatively low levels.

Yeah. Yeah. So like for for the thyroid, like we know that the thyroid needs iodine. Right. If you don't get enough iodine, then you can get a goiter.

Yeah. Yeah. So like for for the thyroid, like we know that the thyroid needs iodine. Right. If you don't get enough iodine, then you can get a goiter.