Fluoride Regulations for Bottled Water

Water containing fluoride is considered to be healthy for teeth. Many municipal water systems add fluoride to their water. However, more and more Americans are drinking bottled water, so there is a chance they are not receiving the recommended amount of fluoride to prevent tooth decay. This article will help you determine how much fluoride you are consuming. This article will also be useful to parents concerned about fluorosis, a condition that can affect children under eight. Fluorosis can cause white spots or pitting on teeth and is caused by an overexposure to fluoride. Consult your doctor or dentist to determine the recommended amount of fluoride for you and your family. Then read on to learn about the regulations concerning fluoride in bottled water.

Definition of Bottled Water

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water. Bottled water that is sold within a state is not subject to FDA requirements but may be regulated by that state. Bottled water sold in more than one state is subject to FDA requirements. "Bottled water" includes any products that are labeled as follows: bottled water, drinking water, sparkling bottled water, spring water, artesian water, mineral water and purified water (purified water includes deionized, distilled, demineralized and reverse osmosis water). Water containing carbonation (such as club soda, tonic water and seltzer) is considered by the FDA to be a soft drink and is regulated differently. In cases of flavored water and nutrient-added water, the term "water" must be highlighted on the label in order to fall under bottled water regulations.

Fluoride Regulations for Bottled Water

The Code of Federal Register 21 CFR 165.110 contains the specific FDA regulations for bottled water. The regulations differ for bottled water produced in the United States. and bottled water that is imported. The regulations also differ for bottled water that has naturally occurring fluoride and bottled water that has fluoride added to it. The stated limits on fluoride are actually a range of levels that depend "on the annual average of maximum daily air temperatures at the location where the bottled water is sold at retail." The air temperature is important for fluoride consumption because people who live in warm climates tend to drink more water (and thus more fluoride) than those who live in cold climates. But the CDC notes that this may not be true anymore due to lifestyle changes in recent decades, such as the increased use of air conditioning, which may lower warm-climate water consumption down to cold-climate levels.

Specific Maximum Levels of Fluoride

For domestic bottled water with naturally occurring fluoride, the maximum level of fluoride is 2.4 mg/L (milligrams per liter). For domestic bottled water with added fluoride, the maximum level is 1.7 mg/L. For imported bottled water with naturally occurring fluoride, the maximum level is 1.4 mg/L. For imported bottled water with added fluoride, the maximum level is 0.8 mg/L. Note that these maximums are the top ends of the ranges of maximum levels that depend on annual average temperatures. Locations with higher annual average temperatures will have lower maximum levels.

Labeling Requirements

Bottled water manufacturers are required to list fluoride additives on labels but are not required to list the amount of fluoride in the product. If the label says "drinking fluoridated water may reduce the risk of tooth decay," the water contains from 0.6 mg/L to 1.0 mg/L. To determine how much fluoride is in a specific brand of bottled water, call the manufacturer and ask them for fluoride information.

Considerations

The amount of fluoride in bottled water does not change while it is stored in either glass or plastic containers. Assuming that the packaging is still intact and the water was properly bottled in accordance with FDA general safety regulations, bottled water is considered to be safe indefinitely. However, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends not drinking bottled water two years after packaging, just in case the container has deteriorated or been damaged.