How to Reduce Fluoride Intake

Fluoride is touted as the best way to prevent cavities, along with regular flossing and brushing. While some dentists claim that fluoride helps to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities, other dentists disagree with the amount of fluoride needed to do so.Many municipal water systems in Europe and the U.S. began adding fluoride to their water treatment plants in the 1950s and 1960s. While dental health has improved since then, cases of hypothyroidism in fluoridated water areas have skyrocketed. What's the connection? Fluoride is a known thyroid suppressant. In the 1940s and 1950s, endocrinologists administered high doses of fluoride to hypothyroidism patients, to depress thyroids that were out of control. As small levels of fluoride (typically 4 to 5 parts per million) were added to water supplies, many people had thyroid reactions. For current hypothyroidism patients, reducing fluoride intake can help the thyroid. Learn how to reduce fluoride intake to prevent iodine deficiency, which can result in hypothyroidism.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• bottled water
• non-fluoridated toothpaste
• reverse osmosis system

1. Drink non-fluoridated bottled water.
2. Install a reverse osmosis (RO) system in your home. Reverse osmosis is the only way to remove fluoride from water; filtration systems won't remove fluoride.
3. Use non-fluoridated toothpaste. Some dentists state that ingested fluoride is not necessary, but topical fluoride--fluoride in toothpaste and treatments--is important. Nevertheless, some people don't want to use any kind of fluoride, so they choose to use non-fluoridated toothpaste.
4. Avoid most commercial teas. Green tea is healthy--but it may have fluoride residue on the leaves, and each cup you drink increases your fluoride levels.
5. Stop drinking bottled drinks. Bottled juices, sodas, and other drinks can be made with fluoridated water, and the fluoride often does not appear on the label.

Tips & Warnings

• If you take thyroid medication, re-evaluate your medication needs after dropping fluoride from your diet.