Reduce Fluoride Exposure

 

Fluoride isn't just found in fluoridated drinking water. Many products are made using water from fluoridated public water supplies.

 

Assume drinking water is fluoridated unless you know otherwise.

Understand that most home water filters will not remove fluoride.

Soda, reconstituted juice, wine, and beer usually are manufactured using fluoridated water. Read the labels on bottled beverages and look for water that has been purifed using reverse osmosis or distillation. Reverse osmosis and distillation do remove fluoride. If those processes are not named, assume the beverage is fluoridated.

 

 

You may be unaware of the common products you use that contain appreciable levels of fluoride.

 

Don't take fluoride supplements. That sounds obvious, but you may not realize a product contains supplemental fluoride. Read the label on multivitamin formulas to be certain they do not contain fluoride or another compound containing fluorine.

Read the label on bottled water. Water purified using reverse osmosis or distillation tends to be unfluoridated. Other purification methods do not remove fluoride.

Consider using unfluoridated toothpaste.

Limit your consumption of black or red tea. Black and red tea are derived from two different types of plants, but both leaves contain naturally high levels of fluorine. If you drink wish to drink tea, brew it yourself using unfluoridated water.

Consider eating organic fruits and vegetables. The US National Organic Program does not permit the use of pesticides that leave high fluoride residues. Rinse all produce before eating it.

Tinned fish and and many other types of canned food often contain fluoride.

Mechanically deboned chicken, such as chicken nuggets, canned chicken, and baby food, contain fluoride from residue of bones that have been removed.

Fluoride is used as a preservative in some products. Read labels to see if a compound containing 'fluor' or 'fluoro' is listed.

Black or red rock salt often contains appreciable levels of fluoride.

Chewing tobacco and other tobacco products contain fluorine compounds.

Several medications contain fluorine.

Most toothpastes contain fluoride. If you use a fluoridated toothpaste, be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing your teeth. Watch for fluoride in other dental hygiene products, such as mouthwash.

 

The easiest way to limit your intake of fluoride is to be aware of possible dietary sources of fluoride and fluorine compounds. Many foods and beverages that contain fluoride also contain antioxidants and other healthful nutrients, so you may wish to limit those foods in your diet rather than eliminate them.