Fluoridated bottled water to prevent cavities in young children
Official title: Phase II, proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial to evaluate dental caries preventive effects of fluoridated bottle water
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11364274 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, patient-facing trial tests whether having fluoridated drinking water in bottled form can prevent tooth decay in children from infancy to early childhood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2020 |
| Project end | September 16, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,529,558 |
| NIH project number | 2UH3DE029169-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364274 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants and young children in eastern North Carolina who are enrolled and have begun receiving study water deliveries.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not consume the study water or who are not enrolled in the trial may not experience a direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows children from infancy in eastern North Carolina to see if drinking fluoridated bottled water reduces cavities in their primary teeth. It uses a placebo-controlled randomized design and collects annual dental exams and monthly study water deliveries, plus biomarker data from nail clippings to measure fluoride exposure. The study aims to provide clear, real-world evidence about the effectiveness of fluoridated water delivered in bottles, which could influence public health recommendations and water policies. Participants will receive regular visits and teeth exams over about 3.5 years to track changes in dental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could confirm a simple, scalable approach to reduce early childhood tooth decay.
How similar studies have gone: This is a pioneering placebo-controlled RCT for fluoridated drinking water and positive results would be a major advancement beyond prior observational evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Slade, Gary Douglas — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Slade, Gary Douglas
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.