More than 70-percent of US cities add fluoride to drinking water. Once considered essential for public health, it’s a practice not everyone approves of.
A growing body of evidence suggests that too much fluoride can be harmful to your health, but the jury is still out. So, until they reach a verdict, here’s how you can measure fluoride levels in your tap water supply.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural element in the Earth’s crust. It’s common in soil and most water sources.
Why Is There Fluoride in Drinking Water?
Cities have been adding fluoride to tap water since 1945. Research shows it helps reduce cavities by up to 25 percent.
Is There Naturally Occurring Fluoride in Well Water?
Fluoride occurs naturally in groundwater. Most of it comes from deposits of calcium fluoride.
Virtually all waters in China, India, and Central America, including El Salvador and Costa Rica have a high fluoride concentration.
Natural fluoride levels in the US are generally low with higher concentrations in Arizona and Southern California.
Does Fluoridated Water Prevent Tooth Decay?
Fluoride in drinking water is a controversial topic, but multiple studies have repeatedly shown that it can strengthen teeth and reinforce tooth enamel. Most experts agree it’s effective, but whether the benefits are sufficient to balance the newly discovered risks to human health, research has yet to determine.
In Europe, 97 percent of drinking water is not fluoridated yet similar improvements in tooth decay health have been noted. For now, the Environmental Protection Agency and the CDC continue to advocate for its use in the US.
The Health Effects of Fluoride in Drinking Water
Too much fluoride in drinking water has been implicated in a wide range of health problems, including:
#1 Dental and Skeletal Fluorosis
High fluoride levels in children under nine are associated with dental fluorosis, a condition that causes permanent white spotting on teeth. A similar condition, skeletal fluorosis, can lead to muscle, bone and ligament weakness if unaddressed.
#2 Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is more common in cities where the fluoride level is above 2 mg/L. Research suggests it displaces iodine, an essential nutrient for producing thyroid hormone.
#3 Developmental Delays
Dozens of studies demonstrate a link between fluoride in drinking water and developmental issues in children, from low IQ to ADHD.
#4 Kidney Disease
Fluoride in drinking water is associated with higher rates of renal disease. Research shows that as little as 2mg/L — the upper legal limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — can damage a child’s kidneys.
Recommended Fluoride Concentrations in Drinking Water
The maximum allowable fluoride concentration in public water supplies is 4 mg/L. However, the EPA has a second non-enforceable standard of 2 mg/L to prevent dental and skeletal fluorosis. Treatment authorities try to maintain optimal levels but are not always successful.
In areas where fluoride content is more than 2 mg/L but less than 4 mg/L, the EPA recommends using an alternative drinking water source for children under nine. For families using wells, they recommend fluoride testing.
Fluoride VS Sodium Fluoride
There’s a chemical difference between naturally occurring fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate —a fluoride derivative — and sodium fluoride, the kind of fluoride found in fluoride toothpaste.
The naturally occurring form is the least harmful. Sodium fluoride is more toxic but less risky because it’s in topical products we don’t swallow. Sodium fluorosilicate, the type of fluoride added to water supplies is the most absorbable. All three types, however, contribute to total fluoride intake.
How to Test Your Water for Fluoride
If you drink city water, your annual consumer confidence report tells you how much fluoride is added to your water and the total fluoride concentration. If you drink well water, fluoride test kits allow you to manage your own water safety.
Testing water is easy using one of these methods:
See our top rated DIY water testing kits
#1 Fluoride Meter
Measuring fluoride in seconds with a digital fluoride meter. Dip the probe in water and see immediate results measured in parts per million.
Capable of detecting trace amounts of fluoride, treatment officials use them to test field samples. The least expensive reliable model, however, will set you back $200.
#2 Liquid Reagent Test Kit
Liquid reagent test kits are similar to the chlorine testing kits pool owners use to balance their chemicals.
Just add a few drops of liquid to a water sample and compare it to the shades on a color chart. It requires a good eye and a steady hand.
#3 Color Disk Testing Kit
Color disk test kits take testing technology a step further. Water samples are combined with liquid or powdered reagents in a test tube. The tube is placed in a lighted viewing box and rotated until it matches the exact color on a color wheel.
Color disk tests are more accurate than a standard fluoride test kit but cost significantly more.
#4 Test Strip Test Kit
Fluoride test strips are handy but less accurate than other test kits. Just dip one in a water sample and compare the fluoride measurement to the shade on a color chart.
Strips are not ideal for initial testing, but they’re a cost-effective way to monitor the performance of a filter.
#5 Laboratory Testing Kit
Lab testing is the most precise way to measure fluoride levels. We recommend using a certified drinking water lab because they use only the most advanced testing methods.
If you don’t have a local lab, we recommend ordering SimpleLab’s Tap Score test kit. They partner with certified laboratories to deliver laser-accurate results.
Choose from fluoride testing kits to comprehensive panels that test for hundreds of potentially hazardous substances. The CDC recommends annual testing for bacteria and nitrates, so that’s a good time for well owners to test for fluoride concentration.
The process is foolproof. You’ll send them tap water samples, and in a few weeks, you’ll get a detailed report of what’s in your drinking water, including a fluoride measurement and objective recommendations for water treatment equipment.
How to Remove Fluoride from Your Drinking Water Supply
Whether fluoride is naturally occurring in your groundwater or added to your water supply, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If fluoride testing shows too much fluoride in your drinking water, filtration is a practical solution.
Best Water Filters for Removing Fluoride
The best filters for removing fluoride include reverse osmosis, activated alumina and bone char filters. Let’s review their applications.
#1 Reverse Osmosis Filters
Reverse osmosis filters remove 99 percent or more of most contaminants, from bacteria to fluoride. If testing reveals more than one toxin in your water, an RO filter may be the best choice.
Most RO systems are so-called point-of-entry filters that purify small amounts of water for drinking and cooking. But since most fluoride comes from the food and water we consume, it’s an effective way to reduce exposure.
#2 Activated Alumina Filters
Activated alumina filters are made from enhanced aluminum oxide. Their high absorption capacity makes them ideal whole-house filtration systems if you want fluoride-free water from every tap.
Activated alumina also removes chemicals pollutants plus hydrogen sulfide and arsenic — common contaminants in wells.
#3 Bone Char Filters
Bone char filters are made from burnt animal bones. Available in whole-house and point-of-entry filtration systems, they remove 90-95 percent of fluoride, plus chlorine, lead and more.
Water softeners and salt-free water conditioners do not remove fluoride, but they’re compatible with filters that do. For the best results, choose NSF-certified filters. They’re independently tested to the highest industry standards.
Final Thoughts
For better or worse, fluoride is here to stay until more research is done. In the meantime, it’s up to you to evaluate your risks. Fluoride test kits and home filtration systems empower individuals to take charge of their drinking water quality. The ball is in your court.