Scientists Believe FDA Recommendations for Fluoride Levels are Still Too High

How healthy is your water? Do you stick to bottled sources to reduce your chances of drinking unwanted contaminants? Well you still might be getting too much fluoride.

The FDA is recommending bottled water manufacturers limit added fluoride levels to those of recommended municipal water sources, but some researchers believe those levels are still too high. Fluoride can have cumulative effects, and many of us get it from more than just our water. Too much of it can lead to damaged, discolored tooth enamel in children. In adults, it can cause painful joints, and it may have negative effects on metabolism and intelligence. 

FDA’s Recent Proposal

Last week, the FDA proposed a new limit on the amount of fluoride that can be added to bottled drinking water. That’s right --- many manufacturers are already adding fluoride to their bottled water, and they’ve been doing so with little oversight up until now. The proposal suggests manufacturers can add no more than 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L), the current suggested amount for municipal sources.

The FDA recommends this ratio to help fortify teeth in young children. Some sources with naturally occurring fluoride have even higher levels, and those sources aren’t under any regulations. Similarly, bottled water that comes from sources with naturally high fluoride content won’t be subject to any limit enforcements. This means the amount of fluoride in your bottled water could be well above the recommended 0.7 mg/L, and no one will be doing a thing about it.

Still Too High?

According to the CDC, some people may see the effects of too much added fluoride in water with less than 2 mg/L. Children 8 years old and younger, the main target group for fluoridated water, can develop a condition called dental fluorosis even at that low amount. In its least severe form, dental fluorosis causes discoloration of the teeth; at its worst, it causes irreversible pitting and damage to the enamel.

Fluoride can accumulate in the body over time, and many of us are likely to be exposed to it via multiple sources. You’re likely to find traces of fluoride in your food and, depending on where you live, it may even be in the air you breathe. Studies have shown there’s a fine line between helpful levels of fluoride and unhealthy ones, and you may be accumulating more in your body than you realize.

In adults, too much fluoride can result in skeletal fluorosis. This painful condition is often mistaken for osteoarthritis, but it can also lead to calcification of ligaments, which can further limit range of motion. Evidence is also mounting that even low chronic doses of fluoride can trigger metabolic changes and lower your IQ.

How to Protect Yourself

Make sure you know what’s in your water. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), bottled water manufacturers don’t have to disclose their water sources --- and most of them don’t. A label may disclose that minerals have been added to the water, but it doesn’t have to list which minerals or whether those added include fluoride.

If you want to make sure you’re not getting unwanted fluoride, filter your own tap water. Most filters will reduce, if not eliminate, the fluoride in your water, although reverse osmosis and distillation are the most effective methods.

The research on fluoride safety might be conflicting, but it’s safe to say that a minimalist approach is often the best one. If you’re an adult and use a fluoride toothpaste twice a day, you probably don’t need the added fluoride in your water. Chances are, you’re already getting more than your body can process.

~ Here’s to Your Health and Wellness