That’s why, in one of our blogs, we addressed the most popular question that we had been receiving: “What is fluoride and how much is safe?”. We went over the basics and discussed the harm fluoridated water could cause as well as the controversy that surrounds it. However, due to more specific questions we have received, we would like to dedicate this post to taking a more in-depth look at the different types of fluoride and how they can affect your health.
Does the type of fluoride matter?
The first and most basic thing to know about fluoride is that not all fluoride is created equal. There are many types—both naturally occurring and synthetic—that you will come across while researching water. The most common misconception is that the small amounts of natural fluoride found in water are extremely harmful. This natural version of fluoride is called calcium fluoride and is usually found in soil. With any sort of spring or natural source of water there will always be trace amounts of calcium fluoride. Of course, like anything else consumed in extreme excess, this type of fluoride does have the potential to cause health problems. This is most commonly an issue in rural parts of India where the consumption of groundwater along with elevated levels of calcium fluoride caused an outbreak of skeletal fluorosis, or a calcification of the joints that can cause discomfort and deformity.
Another one of the most common types of fluoride is sodium fluoride. This is a synthetic, industrial version and has been shown to be far more harmful. Although there is still much speculation surrounding the topic, it is widely believed that the sodium fluoride that is found in consumer products, pesticides, and drinking water contains cancer-causing properties. In its purest form, sodium fluoride is actually capable of eating through concrete. Although sodium fluoride was the first compound to be used within our country’s tap water system in 1945, it has since been changed to a different compound called fluorosilicic acid.
So why did they add it to the water in the first place?
Studies had previously shown that moderate fluoridation does help slow down the process of tooth decay. By adding it to our public water supply, the chronic condition was supposed to dissipate among lower income children and adults who could not afford proper dental care. However, the quality of evidence supporting this has been poor over the years and since the start of fluoridation, many topical fluorides, such as toothpaste, have become more widely used making water fluoridation unnecessary.
It is interesting to note that according to Flouridealert.org, 97% of Western Europe is using non-fluoridated water. Tooth decay has declined in the past 50 years in Western Europe just as it has in the United States.
Is it better to be safe than sorry?
In our opinion, the research we currently have at hand on the benefits and dangers of fluoride is inadequate and there is really no way of knowing any of the potential consequences or lack thereof until it’s too late. Because of this conviction, our water has absolutely no synthetic fluoride added and at just .16 mg/L of naturally occuring calcium fluoride, is one of the safest options available anywhere. We invite you to take a look at our water analysis compared to the maximum contaminant level and encourage you to compare it to our competitors' water.
Spending time with loved ones and enjoying various adventures is how we should be spending our time on this earth, not worrying about the quality of water we consume. Let us help you make the safe choice.
This blog was previously published on 1/13/2017
