Fluoride is part of a group of compounds that contain fluorine, which can be both helpful and harmful depending on its form. For example, the fluorine in your toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay, but in its sarin form, it’s a dangerous chemical.
Many water authorities around the world, including here in Australia, add fluoride to public water supplies to help reduce tooth decay. This process usually involves adding one of three compounds: sodium fluoride, fluorosilicic acid, or sodium fluorosilicate. The goal is to keep fluoride levels within a safe range, typically between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L, to maintain oral health.
However, fluoride in water is a controversial topic, and some people worry about its long-term effects. The World Health Organisation (WHO) even lists fluoride as a contaminant that needs to be closely monitored in drinking water. So, why the concern?
While fluoride can be beneficial for your teeth, too much of it can cause a condition called Skeletal Fluorosis. Your kidneys filter out some of the fluoride, but the excess can attach to your bones. Over time, this fluoride buildup interferes with bone regeneration, a natural process where old bone tissue is replaced by new tissue. When this process is disrupted, your bones become weaker and more brittle.
Think about it like this: your bones are constantly being remodeled throughout your life, and fluoride messes with that process. The more fluoride accumulates, the more it weakens your bones, leaving them less resilient over time. This is why many European countries stopped adding fluoride to their public water supplies in the 1970s.
Unlike many European nations, Australia still uses fluoride in public water supplies. While it’s added with the good intention of reducing tooth decay, the long-term effects on the body, particularly on your bones, have raised concerns. That’s why it's important to be aware of how much fluoride you're consuming daily—not just from your water, but also from other sources like food and dental products.
The tricky part is that fluoride is hard to remove from your water. Typical water filters won’t get rid of it. The most effective way to reduce fluoride levels in your home’s drinking water is through Reverse Osmosis or Distillation systems. These methods filter out fluoride by forcing water through a membrane with tiny pores, small enough to block fluoride particles.
If you're concerned about the amount of fluoride in your water and want to make sure your family is drinking the safest water possible, consider using a Reverse Osmosis system like the Elite Series 3 from Great Water Filters. This system is designed to remove even the smallest contaminants, including fluoride, thanks to its high-quality reverse osmosis membrane.
By investing in a reverse osmosis water filter, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you’re protecting your health and your bones from excess fluoride. You can learn more about the Elite Series 3 Reverse Osmosis system here.