Having fluoride in your town's drinking water is safe and does not affect a child's development, research out of Queensland has shown.

Emotional and behavioural development, memory and self-control were the same in children who drank fluoridated water and those who did not, a University of Queensland study found.

"There was no difference in child development and function related to fluoridated water," study lead and professor in dental public health Loc Do said.

AdvertisementThe longitudinal study released on Monday assessed 2682 children between the ages of five and 10 from Australia's National Child Oral Health study, following up with them seven to eight years later.

Some children lived in postcodes with fluoridated water and some did not.