The Arkansas State Dental Association is watching — and opposing — a pair of bills filed in the Arkansas legislature that would undo guaranteed fluoride in drinking water. The big picture: Fluoride in water became a hot topic recently after a federal judge in September ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate it over concerns that high levels could hurt the intellectual development of children.

A new study has found a clear relationship between high fluoride exposure and decreased I.Q. in children. The findings, published this week in JAMA Pediatrics, add fuel to the ongoing national debate around whether or not fluoride should be banned from U.

Some recent studies found fluoride exposure is associated with cognitive impacts in children, but the research isn’t conclusive. Still, many Central Floridians say there’s enough evidence to warrant concern.

A Manatee County official is calling for the removal of fluoride from the county’s drinking water following a renewed national debate about whether it poses health risks. In a controversial ruling in September,

For every 1mg/L increase in urinary fluoride, children’s IQ dropped by 1.63 points, according to the study. The World Health Organization set the safe fluoride limit at 1.5 mg/L, while the U.S. recommends 0.7 mg/L in drinking water.

As the incoming Trump administration pushes back against water fluoridation, several Florida communities are already abandoning the long public health practice.

If you’ve got a mouthful of healthy teeth, you can probably thank some kind of combo of good genes, a solid brushing routine—and the presence of fluoride in your drinking water. Since the 1940s, adding the mineral to the public water supply has been the norm in many places throughout the US.

Editor’s note (November 14th): This story was updated after Mr Trump nominated Mr Kennedy to be his secretary of health.

Since its removal from local tap water, data shows kids in Juneau have started getting cavities at a higher rate.

DEFOREST, Wis. -- The DeForest Village Board could vote Tuesday to remove fluoride from the community's drinking water. The board is slated to discuss resolution on whether to remove the mineral and could take action during its regularly-scheduled meeting. The village's Public Services Committee voted 5-2 last month in favor of removal.

By axing a requirement to add fluoride, which has been on the books since 1989, St. Lucie County is leaving the decision up to water utilities.

Some recent studies found fluoride exposure is associated with cognitive impacts in children, but the research isn’t conclusive. Still, many Floridians say there’s enough evidence to warrant concern.