Fluoride is found in very small quantities in our drinking water. Fluoride is naturally present in the earth’s soil, which means that it reaches groundwater in this way. There is also fluoride in, for example, toothpaste, which ends up in the sewage after brushing through the drain. In this way, fluoride enters our surface water via the sewage treatment plant. Both ground and surface water are used to make drinking water.
Fluoride is a negatively charged ion, or anion, of the element fluorine. Elemental fluorine belongs to the group of halogens and reacts very easily with other substances. For that reason it does not occur freely in nature, but forms compounds with metals in the form of fluoride. In its natural form, fluoride can be found in water, eggs, red meat and some fruits. Fluorine is in the periodic table with symbol F and atomic number 9.
In the Drinking water decision, it has been decided that the concentration of fluoride in drinking water may not exceed 1.0 mg (milligram) per liter. Due to its tooth-strengthening properties, fluoride used to be added to Dutch tap water. As this addition has been associated with health problems such as migraine, gastrointestinal complaints, and depression, it has been bannedsince 1976. This is sometimes still done abroad.
Fluoride occurs naturally in the soil and in this way reaches the groundwater. Chemical fluoride can also end up in our water, for example through toothpaste. The toothpaste ends up in the surface water through the drain and the sewage treatment plant. Drinking water companies use this water to make tap water.
A certain amount of fluoride is good for hardening teeth and enamel. Therefore, some content of fluoride in water is healthy. Too much fluoride leads to stains and streaks on the teeth. Excessive fluoride use can affect kidneys, bones, muscles, and nerves. It is therefore important not to consume too much fluoride. This is especially true for children because they are at risk of fluorosiswhen the teeth are exposed to too much fluoride. Do not swallow toothpaste, but use a special children’s toothpaste with reduced fluoride content for children.
Different advice applies to kidney dialysis patients. Because they take in more than 300 liters of water per week, compared to the 14 liters of an average person, they are exposed to much more fluoride.
Are you concerned about the fluoride content in your water? Then filter the water by using the ZeroWater filter.
Yes, ZeroWater filters 91% fluoride from tap water. The Premium 5-Stage Ionization Exchanger Filtration System thus removes more impurities than the standard 2-Stage filters. ZeroWater had 150 liters of water filtered (double the rated usage) tested by an independently certified external laboratory during the test. The test results are based on the NSF / ANSI test protocol of flow-through equipment for contaminants listed under the national primary drinking water standards.