Fluoride is most commonly known as an ingredient in toothpaste, but it is also present in our drinking water. The compound is purposefully added to public water systems to improve oral health, but not without raising concerns.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral with benefits and risks. If you’re concerned about the chemical levels coming from your tap, we’re here to help. Explore why the mineral is in your water, how much is too much, and how to remove it.
Why Is Fluoride Added To Water?
Fluoride is added to public water supplies as a cost-effective way to promote dental health and prevent tooth decay for entire communities. The mineral helps stop and reverse cavity development by strengthening tooth enamel.
It was added to drinking water after it was discovered that people in areas with high fluoride concentrations were less likely to have dental issues. As tooth decay lessened in areas introducing fluoridated drinking water, it became the standard across the U.S.
What Are Safe Levels of Fluoride in Drinking Water?
Too much fluoride intake can erode the tooth enamel, counteracting its intended effects. Damaged tooth enamel predisposes teeth to cavities, makes them sensitive to hot and cold, and is prone to discoloration.
The U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) recommends a level of 0.7 mg/L in public water systems to help prevent tooth decay. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented a drinking water standard, or the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in public drinking water systems, of 4.0 mg/L.
Exposure to fluoride levels higher than 4.0 mg/L for a prolonged time can cause skeletal fluorosis, a condition in which fluoride builds up in the bones. This can lead to joint stiffness and pain, and weak bones or fractures in older adults.
The EPA set a secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L. This standard acts as a guideline for fluoride levels in public drinking water rather than an enforced regulation. It was set to protect children from dental fluorosis, a condition in which fluoride collects in developing teeth and prevents the natural formation of tooth enamel. This condition can cause permanent tooth staining or pitting.
States can set their maximum fluoride level standards in drinking water as long as they remain below the national 4.0 mg/L standard.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets the fluoride standards for bottled water. The maximum level for bottles with no added fluoride varies by region, but can be up to 2.4 mg/L. The maximum level for bottles with added fluoride is 0.7 mg/L.
How Can I Remove Fluoride From My Drinking Water?
The natural fluoride levels in some areas can be higher than the 4.0 mg/L standard. The agencies managing public water systems must lower the level below the acceptable standard, but the levels in private sources, such as wells, may still be high.
Before removing the mineral from your drinking water, test it. If yours comes from a public source, contact your local utilities to learn about the chemical levels. If you have a private source, have it tested by a state-certified laboratory.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a purification process that removes contaminants from water by propelling it through a semi-permeable membrane. Knowing how osmosis works is helpful for fully understanding the process.
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. Water wants to create a relatively equal concentration on both sides of the membrane, so it moves toward the area with more solute.
If you consider the solute to be all the contaminants you want to remove from your drinking water, you can see how osmosis is counterproductive. As its name suggests, reverse osmosis works by applying pressure against the natural direction of osmosis. The membrane ensures that only water molecules pass, leaving the contaminants behind.
Most water filters aren’t equipped to handle issues past taste and smell, but reverse osmosis can be implemented through a specialized filter. Reverse osmosis filters are primarily installed to filter out sediments, lead, chlorine, and similar contaminants, but they also effectively remove fluoride.
While reverse osmosis is very effective at removing fluoride, it also removes essential minerals such as magnesium and calcium. Because of this, reverse osmosis filters often have to be paired with remineralization cartridges or mineral supplements.
Dual-Stage Fluoride Filter
Woder’s dual-stage fluoride filters remove 95% of fluoride in water, chloramines, and arsenic. Instead of reverse osmosis, our filters use bone char as part of the removal system.
Woder filters also utilize Selective Filtration™ technology that removes 99.99% of contaminants while preserving essential minerals. With Woder’s dual-stage fluoride filter, you can drastically decrease the fluoride levels from your tap without needing to remineralize it. Whether you’re installing the WD-D-FRM-G4-DC filter under your sink or hooking the WD-D-FRM-G4-JG up to your refrigerator lines, Woder has a system that works for you.
Should I Remove Fluoride From My Drinking Water?
Note that fluoride isn’t a chemical contaminant such as lead or mercury; it’s intentionally added to your water to protect your dental health. With the mineral present in toothpaste and some mouthwashes, it’s wondered why it needs to be added at all.
However, the PHS’s recommended level of 0.7 mg/L in public water systems was implemented in 2015 to reflect the fact that people intake more fluoride from other sources than in the past. Despite offering some of the same benefits as drinking water, alternative sources may not have the same amount, exposure frequency, or effectiveness.
While the added mineral poses no intended threat, it still raises some concerns. Because the public has no control over the amount added, some may end up with a higher fluoride intake than others. If you hydrate heavily or have infants who drink formula made with tap water, you may be more concerned about the chemical levels coming from your tap.
Overconsumption or exposure to the mineral can lead to dental and skeletal fluorosis, and in extreme cases, overdoses. For an ideal solution, test your tap water to see which contaminants pose a threat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Type of Water Filter Removes Fluoride?
Reverse osmosis filters are highly effective at removing fluoride. By pushing water through a semi-permeable membrane, these filters remove most contaminants and beneficial minerals. Woder’s dual-stage fluoride filter removes 95% of the mineral, and its Selective Filtration™ technology removes 99.99% of impurities without stripping essential minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.
Targeted Filters Purify Your Water
Fluoridated water was introduced to improve the public’s dental health. While it drastically prevents tooth decay, it still has its risks. If you’re concerned about the levels in your water, begin by testing it. The results will give you an idea of the necessary next steps.
At Woder, we cater to your filtration needs. Based on your test results, we can recommend the filter that best targets your contaminants, whether they’re sediment, heavy metals, or fluoride.
The WD-D-FRM-G4-DC connects directly to your main faucet’s cold water supply. It eliminates 95% of fluoride from municipal-treated water and 99.9% of lead, heavy metals, and chlorine, leaving your water fresh-tasting and pure.
