How about Fluoride supplements
The dentis prescribed them for Emmet's teeth
love to hear your view on this

Which is more dangerous: the flouride in tap water or the BPA in the plastic water bottle?

Please help. I called my water company. The cust. service rep said that they "will never remove the fluoride from our water because it's so good for dental care". How do I go about petitioning the utilty company or getting on the agenda at a meeting? The rep. could not answer these questions.

hi. i heard that reverse osmosis takes the water to 6 on the pH scale, making it acidic. so, if true, this is also not so good. i was recommended nikken filtering systems. told that they extract all the chlorien and flouride.. but that could be bull aswell

Rachel- Fluoride applied to teeth is safer and more effective than fluoride that gets swallowed. If you have questions, ask your dentist to sit down with you for a moment and discuss them with you.

Shawn- Good for you for taking action! Your next step might be writing a letter or organizing a letter writing campaign, or making sure your community knows what's in their water. If the customer service rep can't answer your questions, just ask to speak with her supervisor.

Davor- I don't know anything about Nikken filtration systems, but a pH of 6 isn't that unusual for water -- I believe anywhere from 5 to 7 is fairly standard.

Gary, you may be being facetious, but that's a good question. I'd say your best bet is to drink water with a low fluoride content (either filtered or unfluoridated or, in a pinch, bottled) from a glass or a safer water bottle. Bottled water seldom comes in the kind of plastic that leaches BPA, but it's worth avoiding for a host of other reasons.

I was brought up on fluoride water in Chicago, is it the same as in Southern California, a by-product of mining? At 40, my sisters & I are having thyroid problems, mine happening about 10 years later then my siblings still in Chicago.

Cynthia, the fluoride at issue here is generally stuff they actually add to the water supply intentionally. Hard to believe, huh? Fluoride that occurs "naturally" can be too concentrated as well (although that's not a common occurrence here in the States), so the same cautions apply.

For children, fluoride applied topically to the teeth at certain points during their development is the best solution. Fluoride should not be added to tap water, and whether fluoride should be in toothpaste is questionable. Considering all the unknowns, in retrospect I would choose not to give fluoride drops to my infant. When you consider that fluoride used in fertilizer is absorbed into our food, fluoride is in our toothpaste, it's often in pre-natal vitamins, it's in some water supplies, and children receive fluoride rinses from dentists, you should ask the question, "How much is too much?" The total body burden may be too high, and may be the cause of the serious side effects mentioned. When we solve problems we should be careful not to create new problems. I don’t think science has been careful with fluoride, and why it has not been careful puzzles me. In addition to the concern about the total body burden of fluoride, we need to determine the best way of delivering fluoride. As some writers have noted, ingesting fluoride is a not a good method of delivery, and secondly, ingesting fluoride seems to cause other problems. Adding fluoride to the water supply is unfair to people who believe that fluoride has side effects. We don’t add any other medicines to our water supply. I strongly believe, even if the science of the day says fluoride in water helps children’s teeth and does not harm the rest of the population (frankly, I’ve never seen that question addressed), that the rest of the population should have a choice. Currently, there is no choice. I can’t think of another instance like this, and it makes me skeptical. We should not allow tap water fluoridation, and we should discuss with our doctors and dentists the trade-offs of ingesting pre-natal vitamins containing fluoride and having our infants ingest fluoride drops. We can choose whether to use fluoridated toothpaste, so whether to use it may be a decision, but at least we can choose. Lastly, we should look toward not using fertilizer containing fluoride, so that if we choose to, we can better protect ourselves through the food supply. Currently, one has to buy organic to buy non-fluoridated food. Doing so can be a financial burden for some. There is a lot to discuss about fluoride: how much is the right amount, how should it be delivered, for what age group is it appropriate, for what purpose is it intended, what are the side effects, and why do we have no choice about fluoridated tap water?

The report that floride in toothpaste is recommended by ewg surprised me. I have an article written by Andreas Schuld - head of Parents of Fluoride Poisoned Children (PFPC) that states that there is enough fluoride in a tube of toothpaste to kill a small child. It makes sense to me that if sodium fluoride, the DIRECT by-product of pollution scrubbers in the phosphate fertilizer and alumimium industries (and not the naturally occuring calsium fluoide)is dangerous when added to water,why is it safe to add to toothpastes!?

Anyone can find out exactly what is being used for fluoridation agents, call local utilities department, request the American Water Works Association standard for the type fluoride agent used in your water. Most often used is: AWWA Standard for Fluorosilicic Acid B703-06. The foreword gives source and process, and contaminants are an entire page!

What do you mean by too many entries. That was my first one!!! Eldon

Not all decisions to add fluoride are made by the local water utility. In South Dakota the decison is made by state government.

What is a safe fluoride level in drinking water? I'm sure that you have it somewhere, but I can't find it! Thanks!!

Anita- Thanks for the great info!

Elaine- You're right, there is a lot to discuss when it comes to fluoride. It's not a simple issue, especially because so many people believe that fluoridated water is good for dental health (which, as you know, it isn't).

Karen, you raise a good point. Studies have shown that fluoride is an effective dental health aid when applied directly to teeth. Of course, you're not supposed to swallow toothpaste. The ADA cautions caregivers to help young children to remember to spit out, rather than swallow, their toothpaste. Children's toothpaste often contains a smaller amount of fluoride as well.

Carly, this EWG report should answer your question.

Greg, that's interesting, I didn't realize. Is all of SD's water controlled by one entity?

I use a water distiller for drinking water. I was under the impression that it removes most contaminants. Am I correct in assuming it removes fluoride?

I've never understood the hysteria about fluoridation. People get cavities because the mineral matrix of the tooth breaks down and softens. Fluoride actually re-mineralizes the tooth!! How cool is that? True, it's possible to have too much fluoride and developing teeth can be made un-sightly by this state. But, once we start getting our adult teeth at the tender ages of 5-10, we're stuck with those same teeth until we die. I'm aiming for 100 years so I say up with fluoride!

Gary- Yes, distillation does remove fluoride from water. Thanks for mentioning that!

butlerea- Yeah, it is pretty awesome that fluoride can have such an effect on dental health. The thing is, though, that fluoride in water really doesn't do much -- it's when fluoride is applied directly to teeth that it prevents cavities. So fluoridating the water is expensive, as little effect, and has been linked to all these negative health effects -- maybe the gov't should subsidize fluoridated toothpaste instead!

If you want reverse osmosis filtration but don't want to invest in an expensive filter for your house, buying bottled water isn't the best solution. Many health food stores have a filtration machine where you can bring your empty water bottles in and fill them up, generally for less than 50 cents a gallon. This is cheaper than buying an expensive filter or new gallons of water; it's more reliable filtration than you receive when you buy most bottled waters; and it is environmentally friendly because you're reusing your plastic jugs and significantly reducing the amount you use.

Tara, that's a good point. EWG hasn't researched those dispensers, but I've heard that they filter unreliably. They're probably a good plan for (non-pregnant) adults looking to lower their fluoride intake, but I'm not sure that I personally would want to give it to a baby in formula. Definitely an option, though.

If fluoride is bad for you to drink, how can it be safe to use toothpaste with fluoride?
You can`t have it both ways.
Thanks
Randy

I have been advised by an acupuncturist and herbalist to avoid fluoridated water as part of my treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. My hesitation with a reverse osmosis filtration system is that I've heard that it takes 4-5 gallons of water to produce one gallon of filtered water. Given drought conditions in my area, I'm concerned about this wanton use of water. What is the most environmentally-friendly way of getting unfluoridated water?

Randy- Toothpaste with fluoride works better than fluoridated water to protect teeth, and it's safe as long as you don't swallow your toothpaste. (You don't, do you Randy?) Children should be supervised and assisted when brushing, and coached to spit out their toothpaste.

Valerie- My understanding is that RO filtration just pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane, so that much water waste seems unlikely. Your best bet would be to check with a couple of different companies that market and install systems and see what they say. Let us know what you find out!

I just watched an alarming video on water fluoridation yesterday. I was looking at water filters on nontoxic.com and they have a section on fluoride.
If you are interested in more on this topic, I recommend that you check out these links:
videos on google [if you have some time, watch 'The Hidden Agenda' video - very alarming!]
fluoride action network

After looking at the above, I am very convinced that water fluoridation is a bad idea and a detriment to the health and well-being of consumers of this tainted water.

The National Health Food
Federation wrote an article
about the negative affects
of Floride. Floride is a by-product that cannot be put in
our landfills so it ends up in our drinking water, Scope, toothpaste, etc. Floride is known to disintegrate the bones in your mouth. This product is not good for anyone. Only natural floride
is acceptable.

Anyone who believes fluoride is any good ought to look into it some more. More toxic than lead, more soluble than calcium fluoride and dental fluorosis means damaged/improper mineralisation which will turn to decay eventually.

The Flouride Deception is a well-documented book by investigative reporter Christopher Bryson which discusses flouride research from the development of uranium hexaflouride for bombs through ADA involvement to now. The story is a cliffhanger and the book is hard to put down. It is a very sad story like that of asbestos: industry driven science hiding unfavorable studies and extreme negative health impacts (cancers, destruction of bones, thyroid damage, pituitary damage, etc.). Plus exclusion from grants of scientists who report unfavorable findings truthfully. After reading this book, you will not be able to trust ADA pronouncements about water flouridation, on which they are backtracking already by admitting that you shouldn't mix infant formula with flouridated water. Remember this is the same group that refuses to discourage its members from putting mercury amalgam fillings in our mouths for years. I used to think people who opposed flouridation were nuts, but I now realize that this is just another area where the professional association is joined at the hip with industry and afraid of a liability crisis for its members, and the media are not very inquiring and are now starting to report only the tip of the iceberg. If you think, as I would have only a few years ago, that this is an exaggeration, please go to Amazon and read the reviews of this 5 star book. Then get the book and read it.

Can someone please help me? Several months ago, EWG released an article about what drinking water is the best. I am trying to switch away from bottled water, but cannot seem to find that article for recommendations. Please direct me towards the article if possible. Thanks!

Hi Victor,

If this article on water filtration isn't what you were looking for, you may be thinking of the National Tap Water Quality Database. You can look through all of EWG's work on water.

Are you serious? Flouride in toothpaste is not good for you! There was never any proof that flouride actually helps teeth from what I heard. In water is equally dangerous. Yes how can this be. Im also shocked at the recommandation for iodised salt,morton iodised salt! What the...

Can you guys stop pulling facts out of your asses? Of course Flouride helps your teeth, when used in toothpaste. Not in the water we drink though.

If the fluoride in drinking water hardens tooth enamel, what does it do to the rest of you? eg. hardening of the arteries. The city where I live still adds fluoride to our drinking water. Our family drinks distilled.

Here's an interesting fact why did the Nazi Germans fluorodate the prisoners drinking water. I seriously doubt it was for their health and wellbeing?

From what I've read, reverse osmosis has serious drawbacks--wasting water, sending contaminants back into waste water, unrelialbe filtration due to degradation of osmotic media, and production of water that actually leaches minerals out of the body.

I have a relatively affordable (~350) under sink filter that combines activated alumina, carbon, and kdf filtration. It removes fluorides, chlorine, heavy metals and organic chemicals, but leaves most minerals behind.

I think this is all mind boggling for the consumer and would be a great subject for EWG to research--what type of home water filter is affordable, reliable, better for the environment, and produces water that is healthy to drink. As a point of reference, it's my understanding that distilled and reverse osmosis water is marked as poison in Europe and Japan because of its physiological effects on the body.

I have read so much about how Hitler used flouride in the water during WWII, and how it made the people docile so they wouldn't rise up against the government. Now, I am not particularly fond of politics, but could that be why our government is doing whatever it wants to us and we are saying NOTHING? I have found a wonderful way to get PURE WATER, not through reverse osmosis or distillation,which strips the minerals from the water, but from a counter top, gravity fed system which the American Red Cross and UNICEF uses. It actually purifies the water, taking out viruses, bacteria, etc and they even have elements which remove arsenic and flouride. Check them out if you are truly concerned about your water, as I am. THey are great for emergencies too. REcently we had flooding in my neck of the woods and when the stores ran out of bottled water, I was able to provide pure drinking water for the folks on my block using my water purifier.Everyone was asking me where I got it from and I was happy to steer them to this website. With all that is coming down the pike with water, I wouldn't be without mine. CHECK IT OUT! Also, there are studies posted on the net about how scientists are finding that people who drink reverse osmosis or distlled water are coming down with oseoporosis.

Great News! I have found a product which will take care of all the above mentioned issues. From chlorine, to arsenic, flouride, pesticides,VOC's, viruses and bacteria, heavy metals,inorganic minerals, yet retains the essential minerals the body needs. Some of you may already know about this product. It is the Berkey WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM. I found it at www.ecco-water.com, you may want to check it out and read some very enlightening information.
Scientists are discovering an increase in cases of osteoporosis, bone cancer, and a whole host of gastrointestinal issues due to RO systems.

Hm. I have a sneaking suspicion that the preceeding two comments may have been made by people who are involved with the water purification systems the mention -- take them with a grain of salt, and know that EWG is not currently aware of any negative health effects associate with Reverse Osmosis systems.

That post may have been made by the particular Berkey dealer mentioned... But... The Berkey water filters are very good products. The can remove everything reverse osmosis can with the optional flouride pre-filters installed. Chlorine removal may be better because water isn't forced through the carbon filters under pressure and the filters are of the highest quality. These units are rated to purify swamp water and can do so in an emergency. Cost of replacement filters is similar to reverse osmosis or less. Needs no installation if you live in a rented apartment like me. Does require some space on a table. I'm not a dealer, just a very satisfied customer.

Since researching and discovering the very bad news about the Australian government warning women about drinking bottled water, and finding out about the contaminants in city water today, you can bet I not only bought a Water Purification system, but did indeed become a dealer for them. I strongly believe that pure water is the only way to go and filtered water won't cut it for me. So many people are aware that our water is "poison", but don't know what to do about it. I am very proud to be able to provide people with the knowledge of this option for pure water.
I would challenge any naysayers out there to check it out for themselves. The day is close at hand when pure, clean water will be virtually impossible to find. When everyone else has their heads buried in the sand, I will be enjoying better health with pure water.

A home distillation unit will also remove fluoride and can be purchased at pretty much any hardware store for under $50. Distallation will also remove chlorine and any chlorine related by-products as well as the chloramine most water utilities now use instead of straight chlorine. Most carbon filters will only slightly reduce chloramines; chloramines require longer contact time than most carbon filters provide.
BTW/ this old storey about the Nazi's using fluoridation as a means to to keep the prisoners docile is pure nonsense; check any reputable history web site - this myth has been debunked numerous times but keeps getting circulated.

As for so called "pure water", it doesn't exsist in nature - try to do what you can to protect your health, but don't make yourself mental over it.

I just purchased an under sink filter that uses deionization resin to remove fluoride. Does EWG have an opinion on this form of filtration? It was recommended by a local food co-op....

http://www.custompure.com/doc/mb.htm

Amy, We don't recommend any particular type or brand of water purifier, as we've not tested them.

My understanding is that the type of filter you should choose depends on what's in your water (check our national tapwater quality database: http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/yourwater/) and which contaminants you want to remove.

You might check this review of different water filters in The Green Guide (Nat'l Geographic publication): http://tinyurl.com/4n8du7. It's from 2002 but chock full of good info.

I have found a place that provides Natural Spring Water from the province that I live in. I am extremely satisfied with the water and what it has to offer (healthy ph level, minerals that are still there, the company does not use any toxic chemicals to clean their water bottles. Water bottles are only filled one or two days before you buy them). My concern is that the water jugs are #7's. My question is "What is the better choice for my family?" Natural Spring water that comes in #7 bottles, or using a water purification system that does not take out the fluoride and perhaps will not take out other potentially dangerous toxins (prozac? other pharmaceuticals... etc.)

Hope someone has an answer!!

C.

cfoy:
Definitely go with the Spring Water. Fluoride has too many serious side effects. I am going to switch my family to bottled spring water only.
I hope this helps!

For those drinking distilled water..it might not be such a good idea since the average pH of distilled water is 5.8, which is considered acidic. An acidic environment encourages cancer growth. I have studied everything i could find about pure water, the best filtering systems, the most cost effective etc. I chose a DewPointe AWG.
pretty much a no-brainer. Makes 2-8 gallons of water daily, the filtering system includes carbon, RO filters and 3 UV lights. Since this water has never touched the ground or been thru any pipes, it was already clean. After the filtering what you have is undoubtedly the purest, cleanest, fresh tasting water available on earth (99.99% pure) Minerals are added back to bring the pH to 7.2-7.4. An AWG is THE way to go. An AWG would not be affected by terrorisim. I have had my DewPointe for 6 months now. I'm in Oregon and it makes so much pure water that we give alot of it away to neighbors and friends.
(some are dealing with chemo).
Folks, this IS the future of water in my opinion.

Yes! Fluoride is bad news but it really isn't new because it has been put in so many municipal water sources for quite some time. I heard that the Nazis experimented with it during WW2 as a possible agent for brainwashing! There are two types of fluoride and the one that is used in our water is bound to aluminum and is a product of the metal industry. Fluoride and aluminum are also found in PROZAC!! I just made a video which I will put on my website today about how important clean water is and how other components (ie energetic) might relate.

http://www.WaterVibes.com/blog