Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

JBLM Lewis

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.

 

66

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND10ND
2019N/A00N/A
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND10ND
2022ND180ND
20230.104 ppm4616ND - 0.980 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
2018-05-29ND
2021-06-284145042ND
2022-04-064272598ND
2022-05-184295200ND
2022-06-024318739ND
2022-07-074310995ND
2022-07-074310996ND
2022-07-274318736ND
2022-08-034332241ND
2022-08-034332238ND
2022-08-034332235ND
2022-09-074338549ND
2022-09-074338548ND
2022-09-074338550ND
2022-10-054365930ND
2022-10-054365932ND
2022-11-024372777ND
2022-11-024371583ND
2022-12-074388506ND
2022-12-074388504ND
2023-01-0443996620.0500 ppm
2023-01-044399663ND
2023-02-014408720ND
2023-02-014409195ND
2023-03-014424267ND
2023-03-014424269ND
2023-04-134442700ND
2023-04-194445337ND
2023-05-0344520990.0500 ppm
2023-05-034452097ND
2023-05-034452098ND
2023-05-084452096ND
2023-05-174468474ND
2023-06-074468431ND
2023-06-074468430ND
2023-06-0744684710.600 ppm
2023-06-154470470ND
2023-07-054478251ND
2023-07-0544782530.630 ppm
2023-07-054478255ND
2023-07-054478254ND
2023-07-0544782500.620 ppm
2023-07-124491258ND
2023-08-024500250ND
2023-08-024500247ND
2023-08-024500249ND
2023-08-024500248ND
2023-09-0545147890.0900 ppm
2023-09-054514795ND
2023-09-054514793ND
2023-09-0545147980.0500 ppm
2023-10-0245405540.0600 ppm
2023-10-0245405520.0600 ppm
2023-10-0245405530.0600 ppm
2023-10-0445416990.680 ppm
2023-10-0445405550.110 ppm
2023-10-0445405560.310 ppm
2023-11-024542954ND
2023-11-024542953ND
2023-11-024542952ND
2023-12-054556463ND
2023-12-054556460ND
2023-12-054556461ND
2023-12-1445564770.120 ppm
2023-12-2645698070.980 ppm
2023-12-2645660150.320 ppm