Fluoride Water Filters

Fluoride water filters are an important investment to make if you live in a town or city that fluoridates its water. Here's why:

fluoride water filter

Why Are They So Important?

It all began back in 1901, when Frederick McKay, recently graduated from dental school, opened a practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was surprised to find that many of the natives there had brown stains on their teeth. McKay was determined to discover the reason behind it.

In 1909 Dr. G. V. Black, a dental researcher, collaborated with McKay and studied close to 90 percent of the children born in the city who had the stains. The two men discovered two things: They discovered that dark stains were the result of developmental imperfections. City residents whose permanent teeth calcified without developing brown stains never got those stains. But children who hadn’t gotten their adult teeth were at risk

In 1923, McKay visited Oakley, Idaho to visit parents of children with the same brown stains. It turned out that the stains appeared not long after the city had built a water pipeline that brought water from a nearby warm spring. McKay suggested the city ship the water in through another source. They did, and the stains disappeared.

After years of research, they realized that high levels of natural fluoride in the water cause tooth enamel to turn brown. But very low levels can help prevent cavities. The problem is, even at its natural level, this natural fluoride can cause problems if we consume too much of it.

But an even greater problem is that instead of the naturally occurring fluoride, almost 90 percent of all municipalities adding fluoride use fluorosilicic acid instead of the natural form of it.

Fluorosilicic acid is a waste product of the phosphate fertilizer industry and is heavily contaminated with toxins and heavy metals (including the cancerous arsenic, lead and cadmium) and radioactive materials.

This substance is the waste residue from the superphosphate fertilizer industry, and about 70 to 75 percent of this stuff comes from a fertilizer manufacturing company.

Dr. William Hirzy, a former risk assessment scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency, recently wrote, "A recent peer reviewed study from Harvard shows that the higher exposure to fluoride that children get, the lower are their IQ’s.

Even if drinking fluoride were to have a tiny, statistically insignificant effect on cavity formation, how many of your children’s IQ points are you willing to sacrifice for that slight hope?" 

He also spoke of another study that revealed that the fluoridation chemical, hydrofluorosilicic acid, had enough arsenic in fluoridated drinking water to cause bladder and lung cancer costing at least $1 billion per year in costs in the United States alone.

The Dangers of Fluosilicic Acid

While there haven't been any tests about the results of fluosilicic acid, there have been studies done on the less toxic sodium or calcium fluorides in distilled water. The studies, done on animals, produced adverse effects including lowered IQ, hyperactivity and dementia, cancer and genetic mutations, hypothyroidism, infertility, arthritis, birth defects and kidney damage.

Children, infants (including those developing in the womb), diabetics and people with low thyroid function are especially vulnerable to the effects of fluoride in the water. These people especially need to use fluoride water filters for better health.

How Fluoride Water Filters Are Different

Unfortunately fluoride is dissolved in the water, making it impossible to pick up by ordinary water filtration systems. Since the fluoride is dissolved, the best you can do is to reduce the amount of fluoride that is in the water. One way to do this is through reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis uses a semi-permeable membrane to allow pure water to pass through while removing particles as small as individual ions.

Fluoride Water Filters
Some Recommendations

Reverse osmosis systems are pricey once you take in the additional installation costs (unless you have plumbing skills, you will need to hire a plumber to install a reverse osmosis system).

But considering the investment in your health, it's still worth the price.  A good system to consider is APEC Osmosis Water Filter System (you can find it here).

An osmosis water system like this one will remove fluoride.

Good Countertop Filter

One of the countertop filters to remove fluoride I have heard good things about is the Crystal Quest Crystal Quest Triple 8 Stage Countertop Fluoride Water Filter priced at less than $150 (You can find one here).

Don't Forget Rain Water

And finally, keep in mind that you can always collect rain water and use one of the water filter systems listed here.

Learn More About Being Prepared

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About the Author

My name is Sue Merriam, and I began the journey of self-reliant living more than three decades ago, which enabled me to stay home with my children. Fifteen years ago, I founded Joyful Homesteading to help others save money and face the future without fear. My goal is to give you practical, honest advice so you can save money and experience the joy of simple living. I hope you join me.

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