Does the ZeroWater Filter Remove Fluoride?

Fluoride has been a bit of a flashpoint for controversy since the 1940s when U.S. municipalities began including it in our water supply. While the goal was to benefit the health of citizens, some prefer to have more control over what is in their water. Fluoride in particular has been linked to adverse health effects from long-term consumption. 

If you have the desire to limit your fluoride intake whether it be for health reasons or not, you may be wondering if water filtration can help. The short answer is it can, as long as you use a filter designed to reduce fluoride, like the filtration options available from ZeroWater.

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, rocks, plants, air, and water. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), all water contains some fluoride. It's also found in bones and teeth.

What Does Fluoride Do?

Fluoride is often used to improve dental health. It strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities and is also available as a supplement. However, in certain circumstances, it also carries some health risks.

Benefits of Fluoride

Remineralization: Fluoride helps to remineralize tooth enamel, the outer layer of the teeth that protects them from decay, to rebuild and strengthen it. This remineralization process also makes the enamel more resistant to acid attacks and helps prevent tooth decay.

Inhibition of Bacterial Activity: Fluoride also inhibits the activity of bacteria in the mouth that produce decay-inducing acids to maintain a more neutral pH in the mouth, which is less conducive to the formation of cavities.

Fluoride can also have a positive effect on bone strength, especially during childhood and adolescence. This occurs primarily in two ways:

Mineralization & Osteoblast Activity: Fluoride affects the cells responsible for bone formation becoming incorporated into the bone structure, making bones denser and more resistant to fracture. This process can lead to increased bone mass and strength.

Risks of Fluoride

While fluoride is widely recognized for its benefits in preventing tooth decay and strengthening dental enamel, excessive exposure can lead to adverse health effects. 

Dental Fluorosis: This condition is characterized by discoloration and even pitting of tooth enamel. It occurs when children consume high levels of fluoride during the development of their teeth. 

Skeletal Fluorosis: Long-term exposure to high levels of fluoride has also been associated with skeletal fluorosis, a condition marked by joint stiffness, bone pain, and even skeletal deformities, particularly in areas with naturally high fluoride levels in drinking water.

 ZeroWater 22 Cup Ready-Read Dispenser

Neurotoxicity: Some studies have suggested potential links between fluoride exposure and neurotoxicity (adverse effects on the brain and nervous system), raising concerns about its impact on cognitive development, particularly in children. Research has indicated that fluoride can accumulate in the brain over time, potentially affecting neurotransmitter function and cognitive processes. 

While the evidence remains inconclusive and further research is needed to fully understand the extent of these risks, the potential for adverse neurological effects underscores the importance of monitoring fluoride intake levels, particularly in vulnerable populations such as infants and children.

Is Fluoride Found in Tap Water?

Fluoride is often added to drinking water. Studies performed in the early 20th century found that communities with high levels of naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water had lower levels of tooth decay. As a result, communities began adding fluoride to public water supplies. 

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city in the U.S. to add fluoride to its drinking water. After that, many other cities began doing the same. Today, roughly 73% of the U.S. population that receives water from community systems has access to fluoridated water. 

Per the CDC, adding fluoride to drinking water is a cost-effective way to save communities money on dental care. 

In recent years, there has been controversy over adding fluoride to drinking water. Though misconceptions abound—such as fluoride causes cancer—it's important to know that fluoride is safe for consumption in small doses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the limit for fluoride at 4.0 milligrams per liter.

Does the ZeroWater Filter Remove Fluoride?

At ZeroWater, we acknowledge the benefits and drawbacks of fluoride but also recognize there's no right way to approach flouride in your water. Our focus is on giving you control over what you drink, so if you're somebody who prefers to err on the side of caution, we are the right solution for you.

ZeroWater's 5-stage filter uses ion exchange technology to remove 99% of fluoride from tap water.

The ZeroWater filter also reduces the amount of several contaminants in your drinking water, such as lead. It also reduces PFOA and PFOS, also called "forever chemicals" due to the fact that they cannot be removed from the environment. They can only be reduced. 

Opting for filtered water can help prevent conditions caused by excessive exposure to high levels of fluoride, and is a way to prevent children from being exposed to too much lead and forever chemicals.

Drink Cleaner Water

At ZeroWater, we believe you should have zero doubt about your drinking water. Our 5-stage filters not only reduce fluoride, but remove 94.9% of PFOA and PFOS, and contaminants like lead and pesticides. 

You can conveniently get your water from ZeroWater pitchers or dispensers.

You can also:

• Learn more about ZeroWater technology
• Check out our FAQ

Sources:

"Fluoride therapy for osteoporosis: a review of dose response, duration of treatment, and skeletal sites of action" - National Institutes of Health - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1933602/ 

"Fluoride: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals" - National Institutes of Health - https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Fluoride-HealthProfessional/#h16 

"Developmental fluoride neurotoxicity: an updated review" - National Institutes of Health - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31856837/ 

"Over 75 Years of Community Water Fluoridation" - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/basics/anniversary.htm.

"Water Fluoridation Data and Statistics" - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/statistics/index.htm#. 

"National Primary Drinking Water Regulations" - Environmental Protection Agency - https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations