Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Bethany Crest LLC

Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems to prevent cavities and support oral health in people.

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services updated its recommendation of an optimal level of 0.7 parts per million, or ppm, added to drinking water based on the health benefits of tooth decay prevention. Studies have shown that fluoride added to community water systems at this level reduces dental cavities, especially in children.

And studies have conclusively shown that fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash can also provide these benefits. Read More.

Health Concerns

Although the HHS-recommended level of 0.7 ppm can help promote oral health in children and adults, this level is likely too high for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water.

And fluoride in water at higher levels can be detrimental for everyone, especially children.

Long-term ingestion of higher levels of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth in children.

A 2024 authoritative assessment by the National Toxicology Program found that higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 ppm of fluoride, are associated with lower IQ in children. The conclusion was based on studies in human populations outside of the U.S.

Affecting systems with naturally occurring fluoride, EPA’s maximum legal limit is set at 4 parts per million (ppm) to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a condition where bones become brittle and more susceptible to fracture. But these effects may occur at lower levels of exposure, raising concerns that the current limit may not adequately protect public health.

 

76

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND120ND
2019ND150ND
2020ND130ND
2021ND100ND
2022ND110ND
2023ND150ND

ppm = parts per million

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 4 ppm

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-11S769200ND
2018-02-20S783458ND
2018-03-01S789797ND
2018-04-10S781606ND
2018-05-03S800096ND
2018-06-26S800035ND
2018-07-17S799851ND
2018-08-08S799952ND
2018-09-20S825476ND
2018-10-16S825803ND
2018-11-02S781599ND
2018-12-07S836960ND
2019-01-08S854734ND
2019-01-17S860847ND
2019-02-07S860525ND
2019-03-01S860777ND
2019-03-14S872153ND
2019-04-04S872295ND
2019-04-30S882621ND
2019-05-03S878685ND
2019-06-04S887705ND
2019-07-12S893342ND
2019-08-12S825840ND
2019-09-17S907518ND
2019-10-15S920571ND
2019-11-12S920560ND
2019-12-03S920538ND
2020-01-14S934855ND
2020-02-06S932588ND
2020-03-05S943505ND
2020-04-14S943752ND
2020-05-12S943946ND
2020-05-14S943949ND
2020-06-05S943517ND
2020-07-14S969269ND
2020-09-03S989661ND
2020-09-29S989702ND
2020-10-05S816011ND
2020-11-10S1008395ND
2020-12-02S1009064ND
2021-02-19S989738ND
2021-03-05S1008621ND
2021-04-13S1053405ND
2021-05-04S1074226ND
2021-06-08S1102372ND
2021-07-21S1102743ND
2021-08-24S1103331ND
2021-09-23S1103726ND
2021-10-06S1103634ND
2021-12-09S1150165ND
2022-01-06S1150266ND
2022-02-04S1150258ND
2022-02-09S1159346ND
2022-03-18S1188800ND
2022-05-24S1188363ND
2022-06-09S1188686ND
2022-07-11S1217302ND
2022-08-01S1217791ND
2022-09-15S1231310ND
2022-10-24S1232119ND
2022-11-15S1232355ND
2023-01-12S1256480ND
2023-01-12S1256214ND
2023-02-01S1262807ND
2023-03-06S1231957ND
2023-04-12S1271239ND
2023-05-03S1150511ND
2023-06-12S1277380ND
2023-07-19S1298331ND
2023-07-21S1298428ND
2023-08-07S1271983ND
2023-09-28S1188671ND
2023-10-03S1305066ND
2023-10-09S1304873ND
2023-11-06S1314671ND
2023-12-21S1327156ND