How to Reduce Fluoride Exposure and Toxicity

Industrial fluoride is added to the U.S. water supply, pharmaceuticals and dental products, and also contaminates our air, soil, and food.

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One of the principal ways to reduce fluoride exposure in fluoridated areas is by removing fluoride from both drinking and cooking water. Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

By Christy Prais

June 08, 2023Updated:January 22, 2024

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This is part 10 in “America the Fluoridated”

Fluoridation of the U.S. public water supply has been a polarizing topic both academically and politically since its start in the 1940s. Debate over its benefits and health risks has raged on as the science has continued to unfold.

This series will explore the contentious findings surrounding this ubiquitous public health measure and answer the question of whether water fluoridation poses a risk and what we should do about it.

Finding effective ways to reduce fluoride toxicity has become important to many people because of mounting scientific evidence of possible health effects from this industrial chemical.

Industrial fluoride is added to 75 percent of the U.S. water supply and also contaminates our air, soil, and food. It’s also added to pharmaceuticals and dental products. The accumulation of fluoride in our bodies can cause damaging health effects.

The Epoch Times spoke to Richard Sauerheber, a research scientist and former National Institutes of Health principal investigator, to find out what we can do to minimize exposure and reduce toxicity.

He has published 65 papers and books, including six on fluoride toxicology, and has done extensive research on the chemistry of fluoride and best practices for reducing toxicity, minimizing exposure, and removing it from tap water.

Sauerheber also petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban fluoridation, but the agency ruled that it’s the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

The Chemistry of Fluoride Toxicity

Sauerheber says that understanding the chemistry behind industrial fluoride is crucial to comprehend its increased toxicity and minimize its harmful effects.

His 2013 study in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, “Physiologic Conditions Affect Toxicity of Ingested Industrial Fluoride,” highlights that the toxic effects of fluorides vary based on factors such as water mineral content, diet, and the solubility of fluoride.

Natural calcium fluoride (CaF2) he says, is less soluble than industrial fluoride. This means that only a small amount of fluoride is naturally released in groundwater, leading to lower absorption and a relatively lower dose.

In contrast, synthetic fluorides such as fluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6), which is added to the U.S. water supply, are fully soluble. The greater solubility of synthetic fluorides allows for more fluoride to be absorbed, potentially leading to increased toxicity due to the higher dose available, Sauerheber’s study explains.

Neutralizing Effect of Calcium

In addition to solubility, Sauerheber stresses, fully soluble synthetic fluorides are more toxic due to the absence of natural mineral cations (a positively charged ion), particularly calcium.

Unlike natural calcium fluoride, synthetic fluorides lack calcium and act as calcium chelators, which means they bind strongly to calcium in certain tissues. “This binding disrupts various biological processes and contributes to toxicity,” Sauerheber said.

Sauerheber emphasizes that calcium plays a crucial role in minimizing fluoride assimilation and acts as an antidote to accidental acute fluoride poisoning by counterbalancing or neutralizing its toxic effects after ingestion.

While a calcium-rich diet or calcium supplements can help reduce fluoride toxicity, excessively high levels of dietary calcium can lead to arterial calcium deposits.

Long-term use of additional dietary calcium should only be considered if one’s blood level of calcium was measured at below normal and only after dietary adjustments weren’t successful. Normally, a good diet supplies daily calcium needs, Sauerheber explained.

Hard Water Versus Soft Water

According to Sauerheber, the toxicity of fluoride is also influenced by whether fluoridated water is found in a soft-water or hard-water region.

Soft water, which is low in minerals such as calcium, offers less protection against fluoride toxicity.

In contrast, hard water, rich in calcium, magnesium, and other minerals, provides some defense by decreasing the mobility and chemical potential of fluoride and reducing the absorption or assimilation of fluoride, he noted.

“Ingesting soft fluoridated water results in a higher blood fluoride level compared to ingesting hard fluoridated water with the same fluoride concentration of 1 ppm,” Sauerheber’s study notes.

Water Fluoride Removal

One of the principal ways to reduce fluoride exposure in fluoridated areas is by removing fluoride from both drinking and cooking water. While standard filtration methods, such as activated carbon, are ineffective, there are several alternatives available.

Reverse Osmosis (RO): In his research, Sauerheber found that older RO systems fail to eliminate fluoride, despite manufacturers’ claims. He says this is because of the filtration pore size and flow rate of water.

Because the fluoride ion is about the same size as a water molecule, the pore size must be small enough to block the ion while sufficient water pressure is applied to squeeze the oblong water molecule through it, achieving separation, he explains.

Sauerheber said that newer high-pressure systems have a pore size of approximately 0.27 nm, effectively eliminating fluoride even after long-term use.

He says the GE Profile and Costco systems both effectively removed fluoride even at the five-year mark before filter replacement. The only drawback, he notes, is there is wastewater with the RO system process, but for drinking and cooking water, this loss is acceptable.

Deionization: Deionization filters can remove fluoride but must have an “ion exchange resin.” In order to do so, it needs to be monitored continuously to determine when to replace it, and it’s an expensive alternative.

Distillation: Water distillation removes fluoride, but it also eliminates essential minerals. Remineralization can be done using mineral drops designed for distilled water.

Bone Char Filters: Under-sink de-fluoridation char filters made containing char made in Scotland are effective, he says, but unfortunately, there is currently a shortage of these filters for home use.

Filters to avoid: Sauerheber cautions that although aluminum-based whole-house fluoride filters remove fluoride well for a while, they contain aluminum hydroxide and degrade quickly in areas with highly alkaline water. Sauerheber warned that this can cause a leakage of aluminum in combination with fluoride, which has significant adverse effects on the brain.

Also, filters made in China should be approached with caution, as their effectiveness isn’t guaranteed, he pointed out. A fluoride meter can help with both testing the effectiveness of a water purification system and knowing when a filter needs changing. It can also determine the fluoride level in retail bottled waters and other beverages, but their use requires calibration and salts that prevent ionic strength effects on readings and must be used on water that isn’t acidic.

Avoidable Sources of Fluoride

While fluoride in the air and soil can be difficult to avoid, there are other sources that we can exercise some control over.

Food

Sauerheber stresses that although many people avoid consuming fluoridated water, “it is nearly impossible to prevent significant fluoride ingestion in a treated city because fluoridated water is used in food preparation.”

For example, his study notes that total daily ingestion from prepared foods can bring the exposure level in a 120-pound (54 kilogram) individual to 2.7 mg, which is above levels assumed safe.

While we can’t avoid all exposure from food and other sources, there are some foods that contain higher amounts that we can avoid or minimize.

Some of the highest food sources of fluoride include teas, processed deboned chicken, infant formula, grapes, and grape products, commercial beverages such as juice and soft drinks, some bottled water brands, beer, soups, canned fish, cooked wheat cereal, and some kinds of seafood.

Teas and juices can be two of the highest sources, although some types rank higher than others.

Tea

Tea plants absorb fluoride from the air and soil and most of this fluoride accumulates in the leaves. In tea, soil quality and region play a key role in fluoride levels.

A 2021 study done to compare fluoride levels in commercially available black tea, green tea, and matcha tea in the United States found matcha green tea powder had the highest concentration of fluoride. All samples tested contained fluoride amounts ranging from 0.521 to 6.082 mg/L.

The study looked at three black teas (Bigelow Earl Grey, Twinings of London Lady Grey, and Lipton), two green teas (Bigelow and Lipton), and three matcha teas (Mighty Leaf, Celestial Seasonings, and Matcha Love).

Juice

It’s been found that juices in the United States can have fluoride concentrations from 0.15 to 6.80 mg/L.

A 1991 study examined 43 ready-to-drink fruit juices and found 42 percent of the samples had more than 1 ppm of fluoride.

It also found that “pure” fruit juices, mostly grape juices, contained high levels of fluoride, and juice made from grapes separated from the skin didn’t contain any fluoride. This is thought to be from the use of fluoride-containing insecticides.

Pharmaceutical Medications

Many pharmaceuticals also contain fluoride. More than 300 fluorinated pharmaceuticals have been approved for use as drugs to date.

Sauerheber notes that because all fluorine-containing pharmaceuticals have carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds, drug fragments accumulate in tissues because the liver can’t metabolize C-F bonds well. He said that drugs intended for lifelong ingestion such as some statins are of particular concern.

Also, general anesthesia can contain very high amounts of fluoride but there are fluoride-free options on the market that can be requested before a procedure.

Fluoride Toxicity Research Collaborative is a great resource that maintains a database of all fluorinated pharmaceuticals.

Dental Products

Sauerheber recommends using a hydroxyapatite-based toothpaste as an alternative to a fluoridated option.

He notes in his study that “fluoride from foods, water, and toothpaste causes fluoride to accumulate into bone to 2,000 milligrams/kilogram in about 20 years in most consumers, a level associated with weakening of bone, making bone more subject to fracture.”

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is the main component of enamel and a 2022 study shows that hydroxyapatite particles have been shown to deposit and restore demineralized enamel surfaces and are superior or equivalent to fluoride toothpaste as anti-caries agents.

Can We Detox From Fluoride Exposure?

Sauerheber says the most effective step is to stop consuming fluoridated water. This will help eliminate the fluoride stored in soft tissues, which are able to detoxify much quicker than bone, he notes.

His study reveals that it can take people approximately 20 years to reduce fluoride levels in their bones by half after transitioning from a fluoridated to a non-fluoridated water region.

Iodine and Fluoride Toxicity

In addition to calcium, the toxicity of fluoride also depends on our iodine levels. Those with iodine deficiencies will experience more toxic effects from fluoride. While iodine is critical to normal thyroid function, fluoride has been used in the past to suppress thyroid function.

According to a 2022 study published in Nutrients, “Iodine is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies and is estimated to affect 35–45 percent of the world’s population.”

Dr. David Brownstein notes in a recent interview with Dr. Ron Ehrlich that not all iodine supplements are created equal. After extensive research, he found that Lugol’s iodine, which is a combination of iodine and iodide, was most effective.

Sauerheber warns that although some doctors claim that iodine administration can remove some fluoride from the body, too much can have negative effects.

Because of this, testing and medical supervision are advised, as trying to clear out too much fluoride at once could elevate toxins in the blood to dangerous levels.

Look Mom, No Fluoride!

So can we prevent tooth decay and cavities without fluoride?

In a recent interview on “Discovering True Health,” Dr. Jack Kall, executive chair of the board of directors of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, who has been a practicing biological dentist for 46 years, says the answer is yes.

A biological dentist approaches dentistry in a holistic way and looks for the least toxic form of treatment with the least impact on a patient’s biological terrain.

Kall explains that one of the major root causes of tooth decay and cavities is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress stimulates the immune response and causes allergic diseases, such as asthma, allergies, and dermatitis, and affects the health of our teeth.

“There are many variables within the root cause of dental issues,” Kall said. Our diet and lifestyle can cause or reduce oxidative stress, he notes, and one of the first things he addresses with a patient with dental issues is their diet.

Things to avoid to reduce oxidative stress are sugars, chemicals from different sources, pesticides, heavy metals, and food additives.

Kall also stresses that lifestyle choices that shift our nervous system from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic can also greatly reduce oxidative stress, which in turn improves our dental health. Some of these include physical exercise, meditation, grounding, and acupuncture, he notes.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.

America the Fluoridated