Is it harmful to our bodies to drink fluoridated water? This question has been heavily debated for the past 70 years. Some studies say it isn't harmful; that the amount of fluoride in water isn't enough to cause harm. Some studies say it is harmful; that adding fluoride to water can adversely effect health, especially in children.

People who oppose adding fluoride to water point out that fluoride is the only chemical additive in water that is there for medical purposes. Fluoride is labeled a drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, as such, falls under the category of "informed consent," and it is considered unethical to administer any drug to someone without their informed consent. No medical professional is allowed to administer a drug to a patient without consent, but communities that add fluoride to their water don't.

They also argue that the dosage cannot be controlled due to the fact that different people drink different amounts of water. For instance, an athlete or construction worker will drink a lot more water during the day than an office worker. They argue that only a physician would be able to tell a person the correct dosage for them. And, fluoride is given to anyone who drinks fluoridated water regardless of their age or health.

Most people feel it's totally unnecessary to add fluoride to water as fluoridated toothpaste is widely available and people are able to get the fluoride their body needs from the food they eat. In fact, Western Europe, Japan and most other developed countries don't add fluoride to their water supply.

Fluoride is not considered an essential nutrient and can build up in the body over time as only about 50 to 60% of the fluoride ingested is excreted by the kidneys. Children's bodies excrete even less, so build-up in their bodies is more severe.

Some side effects of fluoride toxicity:

Malformation of teeth, tooth decay and staining of the teeth

Brain damage and lower IQ

Accumulation in the pineal gland which leads to earlier onset of puberty

Can adversely effect thyroid function

Bone damage that can lead to hip fractures in elderly people

May cause bone cancer in some people

And, if you think you are avoiding ingesting fluoride by not drinking tap water, think again. Most bottled water also contains fluoride, including some of the most popular brands like, Arrowhead, Sparklettes, Poland Spring, Crystal Springs, Nursery Water, Mount Olympus, Ice Mountain, Alhambra and Ozarka. Always check the labels before buying bottled water.

Some bottled water brands that DO NOT contain fluoride are:

  • A Better Water
  • Agromas Natural Mineral Water
  • Albertsons
  • Alpina
  • American Fare
  • American Star
  • Appco
  • Aqua Fresca
  • Aqua Panna
  • Aqua Pure
  • Aquarius Natural Mineral Water
  • Arbor Springs
  • Arlington Springs
  • Aquafina Water
  • Aqua Systems
  • Aqua Von
  • Artesian Wells
  • Augusta Medical – Daniels
  • Badger Water
  • Besco Pure Premium Drinking Water
  • BIOTA Colorado Pure Spring Water
  • Bio-2
  • Black Berry Farms
  • Blue Ice Natural Mineral Water
  • Boney's
  • BORNEO
  • Bountyland
  • Buches
  • Calistoga
  • Callaway Blue
  • CAPA
  • Cascade
  • Century Springs
  • Chemung
  • Chippewa Spring Water
  • Citi Stop
  • Classic Selection
  • Clearly Arctic
  • Clear Mountain Spring Water
  • Clover Company Limited
  • Coach
  • Cold Country
  • Cohutta Mountain Spring Water
  • Cowboy Squeeze
  • Crowne Plaza Drinking Water
  • Crowne Plaza Natural Mineral Water
  • Cruel Jacks Spring Water
  • Crystal Mountain Spring Water
  • Crystal Point
  • Crystal Ridge
  • Crystal Spring Natural Spring Water
  • Culligan Water
  • Dakota Splash
  • Dannon
  • Deep Rock
  • Deep Rock Crystal Drop
  • Deep Rock Fontenelle
  • Deja Blue
  • Desert Quench
  • East Phils
  • Eco Quest
  • Elite
  • Equatorial Natural Mineral Water
  • Essentia Water
  • Eureka
  • Evian
  • E Water
  • Family Pantry
  • Famous Ramona Water
  • Flowing Springs
  • Food Club
  • Founders Square Bank
  • Fresh Brands Artesian
  • Fresh Brands Distilled Water
  • Fresh Brands Drinking Water
  • Fresh Market
  • Get-N-Go
  • Glacier Bay
  • Glen Summit Springs Water
  • Glen Summit Distilled Water
  • Glenwood Inglewood
  • Gordon Food Service
  • Great Bear
  • Great Value
  • Harvey's
  • H2O4U
  • Henry's
  • Hidden Valley Natural Mineral Water
  • Hillcrest Distilled Water
  • Hillcrest Drinking Water
  • Hillcrest Spring Water
  • Hilton PJ Natural Mineral Water
  • Hinckley Springs
  • HINT
  • Hi-Sprint Drinking Water
  • Hi-Sprint Natural Mineral Water
  • Hog Wash
  • Hon Less Natural Mineral Water
  • Ice Jam
  • Inland
  • Istana Natural Mineral Water
  • Joe Muggs
  • Joe Ragan's Pure Water
  • Junior Johnson
  • Just Squeezed
  • KLGCC Natural Mineral Water
  • Kroger Bottled Water (Reverse Osmosis)
  • Krystal J Artesian Water
  • Krystal J Distilled Water
  • Laure
  • Leroy Jenkins Ministries
  • Logansport Savings Bank
  • Lowe's
  • Martins
  • Masafi Pure Natural Mineral Water
  • Mercurio Produce
  • Mesra Drinking Water
  • Mesra Natural Mineral Water
  • Misty Mountain
  • Monadnock Mountain Spring Water
  • Montclair
  • Mountain Energy
  • Mountain Forest
  • Mountain Valley Spring Water
  • Mutiara Natural Mineral Water
  • Nantze Springs
  • New Frontier Bank
  • Niagra Mist
  • Nicolet Distilled
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Oasis Pure Drinking Water
  • Oasis Sparkling Water
  • Ogallala – Clear Cool Water
  • OUI Drinking Water
  • OUI Natural Mineral Water
  • Paiges
  • Parmer Pure H2O
  • Patriots Choice
  • Pelangi Natural Mineral Water
  • Penta Ultra Premium Purified Drinking Water
  • Piggly Wiggly
  • Polaris Water
  • Pristine Natural Artesian
  • Purely Sedona
  • Quick Stop
  • Rain Soft
  • Refresh Natural Mineral Water
  • Reiser Drinking Water
  • Request Foods, Inc.
  • Rip Time
  • Roundy's "Purified Water"
  • Safeway – Refreshe
  • Sam's Wine & Spirits
  • San Faustino Natural Mineral Water
  • San Pellegrino
  • Santee Springs
  • Scheopner's Water
  • Sequoia Springs
  • Scotts
  • Shamrock
  • Shop-N-Cart
  • Shur-Fine
  • Silver Creek Purified Water
  • Silver Creek Spring Water
  • Sky Drinking Water
  • Smart Water
  • Snow Valley
  • Spinx
  • Stator Bros. Markets
  • Summit Mountain
  • Summit Springs
  • Summit Valley
  • T-Rex
  • Teton Mountain Lodge Spring Water
  • Tweetsie
  • United Dairy Farmers
  • Volvic
  • Vitamin Water
  • Veta Drinking Water
  • Valutime
  • Whistler Water
  • Whole Foods 365
  • Woodland Spring Water
  • Wyoming Machinery "Catipillar" Spring Water
  • Zodiac