Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

City of Center

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.0764 ppm220.0630 ppm - 0.0897 ppm
20190.0475 ppm220.0420 ppm - 0.0529 ppm
20200.0434 ppm220.0344 ppm - 0.0524 ppm
20210.0661 ppm220.0657 ppm - 0.0665 ppm
20220.0636 ppm220.0508 ppm - 0.0763 ppm
20230.0714 ppm220.0562 ppm - 0.0866 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
2018-04-30Q18174480070.0897 ppm
2018-05-03Q18180130030.0630 ppm
2019-05-15Q19256710080.0529 ppm
2019-05-15Q19256710090.0420 ppm
2020-03-10Q20090820070.0524 ppm
2020-03-10Q20090820080.0344 ppm
2021-03-15Q21066330030.0665 ppm
2021-09-02Q21239590030.0657 ppm
2022-03-08Q22077710110.0763 ppm
2022-03-08Q22077710120.0508 ppm
2023-02-08Q23049710010.0562 ppm
2023-07-20Q23287700050.0866 ppm