5 Ways to Reduce Fluoride Exposure

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Fluoridation has been a practice in the United States for decades now, but increasingly more and more people are starting to question this as further concerns arise about the effect that fluoride can have on the population in general and infants and children in particular. In the meantime, while this debate goes on, there are some things you can do to reduce your exposure to this questionable chemical.

Stop Drinking Fluoridated Water

Okay, this might sound obvious, but it is easier said than done, since fluoride is in most public water supplies. However, you can get around this by drinking filtered water, spring water or buying a home distillation unit for your water that will remove most of the fluoride. If you are not sure if your community fluoridates, check out the State Fluoride Database on Fluoride Action Network’s site.

Reduce your Children’s Exposure to Fluoridated

Toothpaste

Toothpaste has actually been shown to be the leading source of fluoride exposure for young children, not drinking water. Make sure, then, that you either buy non-fluoride toothpaste or supervise your children while they are brushing your teeth so that they are using adequate amounts of it and not swallowing it. It is also good to not purchase toothpaste flavored like gum or candy, as this will often cause children to swallow it or use too much.

Decline Fluoride Gel Treatments

Although fluoride gel treatments are generally only recommended for patients with a high risk for cavity formation, many dentists offer the treatment routinely to most or all of their patients. Even when a suction device it used, it is difficult for adults or children not to swallow a little of the solution, which is an extremely concentrate form of fluoride.

Increase Fresh Foods, Spring Water

The good news is that most fresh foods and most spring water has a very low concentration of fluoride, increase your intake of both will not only limit your exposure to fluoride, it will give you other health benefits as well, such as being hydrated and getting more vitamins and minerals in your diet from the fresh foods.

Buy Organic Wine and Grape Juice

In the conventional grape-growing industry, there is heavy use of a particular pesticide called cryolite which is based on fluoride and therefore gives the wine and grape juice made from these grapes a much higher concentration of fluoride. To limit your exposure to fluoride through grapes and grape products, make sure you buy them organic.

The debate over fluoridation is far from over but while the jury is still out, so to speak, there are steps like the ones listed above that you can take to make sure you and your family are not being unwittingly overexposed to this controversial chemical.

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Sandeep Godiyal
Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. His areas of expertise including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.