These days when you want water you tend to reach for a bottle of water instead of tap water. As you may know, our drinking water has fluoride in it, but what about your bottled water? Many of us drink bottled water for an array of reasons, including a taste preference or convenience. However, bottled water may not have a sufficient amount of fluoride—an ingredient included in our tap water that is important in the prevention of tooth decay.
What Regulations are Applied to Bottled Water?
We know that the FDA has strict regulations on our drinking water, but what about our bottled water? The FDA does indeed have regulations on our bottled water, too. The regulations created help with the standard of quality, identity and good manufacturing practices that bottled water must meet. Depending on the average daily air temperatures where the bottled water is sold, different levels of fluoride are indicated. The FDA does not require that water bottles are labeled with the fluoride content, but it does require that fluoride additives are listed.
Does Drinking Bottled Water without Fluoride Lead to More Cavities?
Your oral health is dependent on a variety of factors. One of the factors is the amount of fluoride you receive in the form of toothpaste, mouthwash, water, food, and professional fluoride products applied by your dentist. Other factors include:
- How often you brush and floss
- How thoroughly you brush and floss
- What you eat
- Regular dental care
Fluoride and the City of Cincinnati
In the city of Cincinnati, OH, there has been a discussion about fluoride and our water supply. Recently, the city of Cincinnati has been considering discontinuing the fluoridation of our water supply because it should not have been enacted the way it currently is in the 1960s. Many years ago the city of Cincinnati voted on this issue and are considering a referendum to halt the fluoridation of our water.
If you want to learn more about bottled water and fluoride, contact us at Mt. Lookout Dentistry. Our Cincinnati area dentists are available to discuss fluoride and water with you to help you better understand the importance of both.