Does Well Water Have Fluoride?

Bill Yeager
Apr 10
3 min read

Anyone who lives in the country and drinks well water may worry about the amount of fluoride that is in the water they drink. In this blog, we will talk about some important points: Does well water have fluoride in it? What steps should be taken if the well water does have fluoride in it?

Understanding Fluoride in Water

Fluoride is a mineral that is a naturally occurring ion found in many water supplies and has the ability of making the outer surface of teeth resistant to demineralization by plaque bacteria and sugars, when consumed in small quantities. Tap, water in most cities, is fluoridated for the purpose of improving dental health. According to the CDC, recommended levels of fluoride in water systems that provide water to the public is between 0.7-1.2 ppm, since it reduces the prevalence of tooth decay while avoiding the potential side effects of dental fluorosis.

Sources of Fluoride

Fluoride is of two types: Organic which means it is present in naturally occurring sources, or artificial, which means it is synthesized by humans.

Natural Sources: The natural sources of fluoride are found within the earth’s crust; it may leach into the groundwater as water penetrates through soils and rock layers.

Synthetic Sources: Most local water supply systems change how much they add to make sure that the water has the right quantity of fluoride for good dental health.

Fluoride Levels in Well Water

The water that is mainly sourced by rural clients, people with private wells, and suburban residents who are not connected to a municipal water system is very different from city water as far as fluoridated water is concerned.

Here’s why:

Natural Variation

Fluoride concentration in well water may fluctuate due to great differences in geology of the region where the well is being used.

For example:

Igneous Rocks and Granite: The amount of fluoride present in these rock types is relatively low.

Phosphate Rocks and Volcanic Rocks: The communities that live in areas where there are phosphate rocks and volcanic rocks might have higher levels of natural fluorides.

The content of the fluoride may fluctuate depending on the geological characteristics of well water; while some might contain very low concentrations of fluoride, others might have higher concentrations, capable of providing or even surpassing the optimal level of fluoride for healthy teeth.

Testing is Key

Water you get from a well that you use as your main water supply should be tested for fluoride levels. The accuracy of the fluoride in water can easily be obtained from a simple fluoride test kit or a water quality report from a certified laboratory.

Comparing Well Water to Municipal Water

Municipal water systems are well controlled and maintained towards meeting the standard requirements for the community, such as appropriate concentration of fluoride. However, well water is not regulated so its fluoride content depends on the natural sources of the water.

Potential Health Implications

Deficiency: Well water that is low on fluoride means that your family will not benefit from the effects of fluoride as found in fluoridated water. This can increase the probability of getting cavities and other dental-related problems.

Fluoride Exposure: While fluoride is beneficial to teeth when ingested in moderate amounts from well water, high level of fluoride will result in dental fluorosis, affecting the color of teeth in children, and in adults, it affects skeletal fluorosis.

If you are among the families whose well waters have little or no fluoride, you may have to find a way to supplement the intake of the mineral. On the other hand, if the levels are high, this may require employing measures to lower the concentration of fluoride.

Solutions for Adjusting Fluoride Levels

Fluoridation Options

If you find out that your well water does not contain fluoride, there are various ways through which you can add this compound to your well water:

Fluoride Drops or Tablets: These are mainly used when the water in homes and industries is not filtering in enough fluoride. They are useful to make certain that children intake enough fluoride to promote good dental health.

Dental Products: Consuming fluoride through application, in the form of toothpaste and mouth wash, can be useful in compensating for lack of fluoride in the water.

Some of the home water cleaning systems that are currently on the market can add fluoride to the water. Talking to a water treatment expert is highly suggested if someone wants to know which choice is best for them.