Fluoride

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and many other public health organizations (including the American Dental Association, U.S. Public Health Service, and World Health Organization) say fluoride deliberately added to drinking water is safe and has a proven and substantial public health benefit, even for small children and babies.

Although fluoride has been added to water supplies for decades to prevent tooth decay, some parents and consumers may have concern. According to the CDC, the “safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation continues to be supported by scientific evidence produced by independent scientists and summarized by panels of experts. The independent, non-governmental Community Preventive Services Task Force has noted that fluoride research evidence does not demonstrate that community water fluoridation results in any unwanted health effects other than dental fluorosis, a condition that causes primarily cosmetic changes in the appearance of tooth enamel.”

EPA regulates fluoride in drinking water “to protect public health.” The decision to add fluoride to drinking water is made at the state or local level. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “more than 70 years of scientific research has consistently shown that an optimal level of fluoride in community water is safe and effective”.

According to the CDC, bottled water may not have a sufficient amount of fluoride, which is important for preventing tooth decay and promoting oral health. If you have questions about whether your bottled water contains fluoride, contact the bottled water’s manufacturer or the brand depicted on the label to ask about fluoride content.

Your water bill or local water utility customer service is a good starting point for information. EPA requires all municipal water systems and other water suppliers to prepare and deliver an annual consumer confidence report (sometimes called a CCR or water quality report) for their customers by July 1 of each year.

Sometimes there is confusion about the difference between fluorine and fluoride. The element fluorine is a pale, yellow gas found naturally in the Earth’s crust. It is highly reactive, meaning it can combine with nearly any element on Earth.

Fluoride is chemically related to fluorine, but they are not the same. Fluoride is a different chemical compound. Fluoride is created from salts that form when fluorine combines with minerals in soil or rocks. Fluoride is usually very stable and relatively unreactive, unlike its chemical relative fluorine. Any chemical compound that contains the fluoride ion is also known as a fluoride, such as calcium fluoride (CaF2) and sodium fluoride (NaF).