How does fluoride get into drinking water?
As groundwater passes through minerals, rocks and soil it picks up fluoride and becomes dissolved in the groundwater. What is the best level of fluoride in drinking water? To protect teeth from decay, the best level of fluoride in drinking water is between 0.7 mg/L to 1.2 mg/L (“mg/L” is a measurement used to determine how many milligrams are in each liter of water). This range is based on the temperature of an area. In areas where it is hot, people tend to drink more water and, therefore, less fluoride is added to the water. In areas where it is cooler, people tend to drink less water and therefore more fluoride is added to the water. There are different recommended levels for fluoride all over the United States. In our Northwest region, the US Public Health Service recommends a fluoride level of 1.1 mg/L. Stop the use of fluoride supplements (usually in the form of drops or tablets) if you have fluoride in your drinking water. Then talk to your dentist about the proper levels of fluo
