Health Risks and Benefits of Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and Infancy

Health authorities have promoted community water fluoridation (CWF) to prevent dental caries for more than 75 years. However, growing evidence has raised questions about the safety of this public health intervention, particularly for young children who are at risk of excess fluoride intake. Divergent opinions about the risk-benefit ratio of CWF have ignited a global debate. The efficacy of topical fluoride in preventing dental caries is strong, whereas contemporary evidence for systemic administration of fluoride is weaker. Inequalities in access to dental care and topical fluorides introduce an additional layer of complexity. This review discusses evidence showing that fluoride ingestion is not essential for caries prevention, offers little benefit to the fetus and young infant, and can cause dental fluorosis and cognitive deficits. In an environment where fluoride is available from multiple sources, community-based administration of systemic fluoride may pose an unfavorable risk-benefit ratio for pregnant women and young children.