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Early Childhood Exposures to Fluorides and Child Behavioral Development and Executive Function: A Population-Based
L G Do1, A J Spencer2, A Sawyer3
1School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Journal of Dental Research
|October 10, 2022
Summary
Water fluoridation in early childhood showed no association with executive functioning or emotional and behavioral development in school-aged children. This finding supports the safety of fluoridated water for child development.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Maintaining child oral and overall health is crucial.
- Early childhood exposures can impact long-term development.
- Water fluoridation is a common public health measure for dental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of early childhood exposure to water fluoridation on school-age executive functioning and emotional-behavioral development.
- To assess potential links between lifetime exposure to fluoridated water (%LEFW) and developmental outcomes.
- To determine if there are significant differences in developmental scores based on fluoridation exposure levels.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal follow-up study using data from Australia's National Child Oral Health Study (2012-14).
- Estimated %LEFW from birth to age 5 using residential history and postcode-level fluoride data.
- Assessed executive functioning (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - BRIEF) and emotional-behavioral development (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire - SDQ) in children aged 5-10 at baseline, re-contacted 7-8 years later.
Main Results:
- A total of 2,682 children completed assessments.
- Multivariable regression models found no association between water fluoridation exposure and SDQ/BRIEF scores.
- Lower household income, Indigenous identification, and neurodevelopmental diagnoses were associated with poorer developmental scores.
- An equivalence test confirmed no significant difference in scores between 100% and 0% LEFW groups.
Conclusions:
- Early life exposure to fluoridated water is not associated with altered executive functioning or emotional and behavioral development.
- Factors such as socioeconomic status and neurodevelopmental status are more strongly associated with these developmental outcomes.
- The findings support the safety of water fluoridation regarding cognitive and behavioral development in children.
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