How to Remove Fluoride from Water

Water fluoridation was implemented in the middle of the 20th century to solve the public’s problems with dental decay, and has been widely credited as being a successful venture. However, many are concerned about its possible effects on long-term health. Children are especially vulnerable to developing dental fluorosis until they’re about 8 years old, a condition caused by high exposure to fluoride. Those wishing to reduce their fluoride intake may be interested in purchasing a filtration system for their local water supply. There are three commonly used filters today, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.


Distillation filtration is powerful enough to remove almost anything from water with relative ease, including fluoride. The water distillation process can effectively remove harmful elements from water leaving you with the closest thing to “pure” water, and also giving it a more pleasant taste.

Reverse Osmosis

Those looking for a more energy efficient system can try an RO-filter. Reverse Osmosis Filtration requires about 3 gallons to produce 1 gallon of filtrated water, although this efficiency standard varies depending on the source water’s contamination level. Unfortunately, it has the same drawbacks as distilled water in that it likewise eliminates water’s mineral-salt content. While lost minerals can certainly be reintroduced, users may not be thrilled about the added hassle.

Activated Alumina

Activated alumina filtration is the most commonly used system for fluoride removal. It can be extremely effective, cleansing up to 98 percent of the water. That being said, achieving effective filtration through activated alumina is time consuming, and excessive fluoride saturation means that the filter will require frequent replacement. It does not, however, require investing in three to five times the amount of water desired merely to achieve a successful cleansing.

There isn’t a consensus on whether or not fluoridation is unhealthy. Dentists swear by the practice: They’re adamant that water fluoridation constitutes one of the 20th century’s greatest health care achievements. On the other hand, people are naturally skeptical about being obligated to drink chemicals—nobody asks to have their water fluoridated, the government does it for them. Filtration systems are a step toward restoring consumer choice to the equation.