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Does Filtered Water Remove Fluoride: The Most Effective Filtration Methods
Everybody wants healthy teeth to flash a bright smile. This is one of the biggest reasons that fluoride’s popularity in the prevention of tooth decay or reduce cavities.
There’s no question as to whether or not this substance can help maintain good oral health, but is there really a need to fluoridate our public water supply just to promote healthy teeth?
Answering this question has been a long-time debate between dental health advocates and fluoride-opponents. Though fluoride helps to reduce cavities and doesn’t affect the taste or odor of water once dissolved in it, too much exposure is said to lead to serious health problems.
This argument drives opponents of fluoride to find ways to limit fluoride usage in our municipal water supply. When they are unable to cease the usage of fluoride, then they are most likely to seek ways to limit intake on their own and that is when the question “does filtered water remove fluoride” will most likely be asked.
Does Filtered Water Remove Fluoride: Key Concerns why Fluoride Must Be Filtered.
This concern continues to be spreading widely across the United States ever since fluoridation of tap water supplies were first initiated in 1945 in the state of Michigan.
Today, about 70% of all homes of the US population are receiving fluoridated water in their water supply. While fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral, it can be potentially toxic once absorbed inside the body. Tap water consumption is reported to be, by far, the largest daily source of fluoride.
It has been reported that excessive exposure to this substance can cause bone fractures, thyroid problems, gastrointestinal distress, and other chronic ailments.
This is why the FDA has implemented strict regulations on all products containing fluoride, particularly toothpaste, to maintain and display poison warning signs and instructions of what to do in case of adverse reactions to the substance.
There are ways to limit the amount of fluoride in your diet for those who wish to avoid all potentially toxic substances and achieve their healthy smile in ways other than the use of fluoridated water.
The 3 Best Fluoride Water Filtration Options
Water filters are not created equal. They come in various types, sizes, and shapes. Each type is designed for a specific filtration purpose. While many of these filtration products can remove most water contaminants or chemicals, only some are proven to be effective in filtering fluoride.
In case you don’t know this already, state and governmental regulatory laws impose that fluoridated tap water should contain no more than 1 ppm (parts per million or mg/L) of dissolved fluoride. Non-fluoridated water may also have some traces of fluoride, sometimes containing about 0.3 ppm or less, while groundwater may have even higher concentrations.
Does filtered water remove fluoride is a fair question to ask since trace amounts can end up in your glass of water regardless of your water source. Below are the 3 of the best rated fluoride water filter systems recommended to reduce or eliminate the amount of fluoride in your water.
Option #1: Reverse Osmosis Filtration System
A reverse osmosis system, also known as (RO) filter, injects your tap water through a series of semi-permeable membranes.
During the water filtration process, most of the contaminants and not just fluoride are removed. Most reverse osmosis systems employ around 4 – 6 different stages of water filtration. The performance of a RO system in effectively removing fluoride largely depends on the quality of the membrane used.
Each system also comes with a dedicate sink-based faucet and utilises a storage tank to hold the now filtered and contaminant free water. Now you have great tasting and healthy water for your entire family to drink.
While this system can waste a substantial amount of water, sometimes taking up to 5 gallons of waste water to get 1 gallon of pure water, it’s still the most effective option for fluoride removal.
RO systems, even a small residential system, are certified to get rid as much as 96% fluoride from the water. There’s no wonder it’s always on the top list of options when you searched for a solution to rid fluoride from your drinking supply.
Option #2: Water Distillation Method
You might be familiar with the distillation process, but do you know that it differs from how filtration occurs? In fact, it’s quite the opposite in that it separates the water from the contaminants. Whereas most filtration process’s separate the contaminants from the water. It’s good to remember that fluoride can’t be removed by just boiling the water as it doesn’t evaporate.
So, while a distiller works similar to a filter in separating fluoride, they’re not the same. Its primary purpose is to turn the water into steam, leaving the chemical contaminants still in your drinking supply .
Once the steam has cooled down, it turns back into its liquid form of pure water. The distilled water is then collected in a separate container, different from where the contaminants exist. As such, distillation is also a very effective way of removing fluoride from water water.
Option #3: Water Filter Pitchers
While many of the water filter pitchers that are currently on the market are not capable of removing fluoride from tap water, there are a few that can do the job. You just have to do a little research for the top-rated product available.
These filter pitchers have the simplest filtration process and setup. They look like any regular water pitcher you use at home. The big difference is that they do contain a filter, a cartridge, and a top reservoir.
It is in the filter cartridge where the actual filtration process happens after you have filled the pitcher with tap water through the reservoir. Contaminants, including fluoride, are trapped in the cartridge filter, making the water free of contaminants, including fluoride if you have the correct filter for the job. Filter pitchers are inexpensive, very portable, and have a compact size. Some brands come in electric models for faster and more effective filtration.
The Best Fluoride Water Filtration System For Your Needs
Now it’s clear that the answer to the question of does filtered water remove fluoride is yes. All of the filters identified above can do the job very well in their own way. Choosing which among them would be the best choice for you depends on your specific situation and personal preferences. What do you prefer: a portable or an installed system? If ever you’re more concerned about portability, then you’ll likely opt for a water filter pitcher. It’s also great to use in case of emergencies. While a distiller can also be very handy, you need to plug it in to work and can be really slow in processing.
Overall, it’s really about your own personal choice. Just ensure that the filter you select is indeed effective in removing fluoride for a safe and healthy drinking water you can enjoy for a lifetime.
Last update on 2023-01-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
About the Author Jack Wilson
Jack Wilson is a water treatment consultant as well as a topic researcher and post editor for all posts on bestpurifiation.com.