A Harvard study funded by the National Institutes of Health has concluded that fluoride significantly lowers IQ scores in children and may be a neurotoxin that affects brain development.

More than 23 human studies and 100 animal studies have linked fluoride to brain damage.  Recent research has also shown fluoride may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease because it causes hardening of the coronary arteries 

Common health hazards of fluoride include reduced IQ, increased lead absorption, dementia (memory loss), bone fractures, dental fluorosis (gray teeth), and a suppressed immune system which may increase cancer risk and many other health problems.

The best way to reduce your family’s exposure to fluoride is drink reverse osmosis water and use fluoride-free toothpaste. Reverse osmosis is the only type of water filtration that removes fluoride. Fluoride-free toothpaste can be purchased at your local health foods store, such as Whole Foods or Fruitful Yield. 

Sources:

1. Choi AL, Sun G, Zhang Y, Grandjean P, 2012 Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environ Health Perspect doi:10

2. Fluoride Action Network, Fluoride & the Brain

3. Nuclear Medicine Communications. 2012 Jan;33(1):14-20.