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TL;DR
This cross-sectional study of US children and adolescents found that higher levels of fluoride in drinking water and blood plasma were associated with an increased risk of dental fluorosis.
JAMA Network Open · 7 authors, 7 centres
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This cross-sectional study of US children and adolescents found that higher levels of fluoride in drinking water and blood plasma were associated with an increased risk of dental fluorosis.
It examined the association between fluoride exposure—measured by drinking water fluoride concentration and plasma fluoride level—and the presence of dental fluorosis. The primary finding was that higher fluoride levels in both water and plasma were independently associated with an increased risk of fluorosis compared to lower reference levels. The study also reported high overall fluorosis prevalence (87.3% in 2013-2014 and 68.2% in 2015-2016), with the decrease potentially linked to a 2015 federal recommendation to lower water fluoride concentrations. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which cannot establish causation, and the single-time-point measurement of fluoride levels, which may not accurately reflect exposure during tooth development. The findings suggest a need to balance caries prevention with fluorosis risk in public health policy.