Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Stillwater

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.

 

25

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.805 ppm440.670 ppm - 0.870 ppm
20190.893 ppm440.830 ppm - 0.960 ppm
20200.728 ppm440.370 ppm - 0.920 ppm
20210.748 ppm440.680 ppm - 0.930 ppm
20220.685 ppm440.500 ppm - 0.800 ppm
20230.716 ppm550.600 ppm - 0.920 ppm

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
2018-02-1218B0612-010.670 ppm
2018-05-0118E0088-010.850 ppm
2018-07-0918G0146-010.830 ppm
2018-10-0318J0177-010.870 ppm
2019-01-0919A0216-010.890 ppm
2019-04-1719D1202-010.830 ppm
2019-07-0819G0420-010.890 ppm
2019-11-0419K0200-010.960 ppm
2020-02-2620B1384-010.370 ppm
2020-04-2120D0661-010.730 ppm
2020-08-0520H0261-010.890 ppm
2020-10-2020J1124-010.920 ppm
2021-02-2421B1443-010.680 ppm
2021-04-2621D1434-010.690 ppm
2021-07-1421G1248-010.690 ppm
2021-10-2621J1420-010.930 ppm
2022-01-2122A0765-010.800 ppm
2022-04-1222D0577-010.770 ppm
2022-08-1022H1018-010.500 ppm
2022-11-1422K0607-010.670 ppm
2023-02-0123B0082-010.600 ppm
2023-04-2523D1477-010.690 ppm
2023-04-2723D1694-010.610 ppm
2023-08-1423H1677-010.920 ppm
2023-11-1523K0867-010.760 ppm