As with other fresh water supplies (e.g., spring water, lake water, river water), bottled waters have low levels of fluoride.
Fresh surface water
contains an average of just 0.05 ppm. To put this in perspective, artificially fluoridated water (using industrial-grade fluoride chemicals) contains
0.7 to 1.2 ppm fluoride, which is 14 to 24× the average natural level.
Since most bottled water is derived from fresh surface water sources, it is not surprising to find that the levels in bottled water are generally very low.
According to the USDA, the average level of fluoride in bottled water is 0.11 ppm (USDA 2005). Fewer than 10% of bottled waters contain more than 0.3 ppm.
Some fluoride proponents claim that increased use of bottled water could explain the rise in tooth decay among young children. This, however, is a
dubious claim.
As an American Dental Association spokesman, Dr. Jonathan Shenkin,
conceded in August 2012,
“there has been no research to show using bottled water causes tooth decay.” In fact, limited research has found
no relationship
between bottled water consumption and tooth decay—a finding consistent with other recent evidence on the
ineffectiveness of fluoridated drinking water.
Fluoride Levels in Bottled Water
| Brand | Fluoride (ppm) |
|---|---|
| Aquafina | 0.05 |
| Calistoga | 0.07 |
| Crystal Geyser | 0.24 |
| Dannon | 0.11 |
| Dasani | 0.07 |
| Evian | 0.10 |
| Naya | 0.14 |
| Perrier | 0.31 |
| Poland Spring | 0.10 |
| Propel Fitness Water | 0.02 |
| Saratoga | 0.20 |
| Very Fine Fruit20 | 0.06 |
| Average | 0.11 |
SOURCE: USDA (2005). National Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages and Foods, Release 2.
| Brand | Rank | Market Share | Distribution Region | Fluoride (mg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead | 1 | 6.9% | California, Southwest | 0.11 |
| Poland Spring | 2 | 6.8% | East | 0.07 |
| Evian | 3 | 5.1% | National | 0.11 |
| Sparkletts | 4 | 4.7% | California, Southwest | 0.04 |
| Hinckley Schmitt | 5 | 3.3% | Midwest, Rockies | 0.04 |
| Ozarka | 6 | 2.7% | Texas | 0.05 |
| Crystal Geyser (Alpine Spring) | 7 | 2.7% | National* | 0.08 / 0.62 |
| Zephyrhills | 8 | 2.5% | Florida | 0.15 |
| Deer Park | 9 | 2.1% | East | 0.07 |
| Crystal Springs | 10 | 1.9% | Southeast | 0.06 |
* Two different sources were found for Crystal Geyser (Alpine Spring). SOURCE: Bassin EB. (2001). Association between fluoride in drinking water during growth and development and the incidence of osteosarcoma for children and adolescents.
