Some preppers go whole-hog and live off-grid. Other preppers live connected to the grid, but 
in a very rural area. In either case, they probably do not have town water, which is often fluoridated. Those preppers who have fluoridated town or city water still have the option of drinking mostly bottled water, which is not fluoridated. So the question is: Should you use or avoid fluoridated water?
Fluoride is an essential nutrient. The Institute of Medicine, whose recommendations are the basis for the U.S. RDA for vitamins and minerals, recommends a daily intake of 3 to 4 mg/day for adults. [1]
The most well-known detriment to a fluoride deficiency is an increase in tooth decay and cavities. [2] Fluoridated water has been shown to reduce the incidence of tooth decay by 40 to 60% compared to communities without fluoridated water. [3] Fluoride may also play a role in strengthening bone [4]; however, this beneficial effect is still controversial.
Excess intake of fluoride is certainly harmful, causing fluorosis. A mild case of fluorosis causes white mottling of the teeth, with some damage to the enamel. A severe case, arising from a very high intake of fluoride over many years, causes skeletal problems. Skeletal fluorosis is rare in the United States (and all too common in India).
Fluoridated water is supposed to have 0.7 mg of fluoride per liter of water (per current HHS recommendations). So 2 liters of tap water per day gives you about 1.4 mg of fluoride — below the recommended amount of 3 to 4 mg/d and well below the Tolerable Upper Limit for teens and adults of 10 mg/day. [1] You are unlikely to get too much fluoride from tap water.
If your water is not fluoridated, how can you obtain enough fluoride in the diet? Various prepared foods purchased in the supermarket, especially those that contain added water, typically contain fluoride from the use of fluoridated water by the manufacturer. Raisins, grape juice, and wine are among the best dietary sources of fluoride.
However, the amount of fluoride in food and drink (other than tap water) is relatively low. You won’t get too much fluoride from food and drink, but you might not get enough. A typical intake from diet alone would be measured in micrograms, not the milligrams that is needed to reach the recommended intake. Using a toothpaste with fluoride can help strengthen tooth enamel. But the lack of fluoride in most foods is problematic.
If you have fluoridated water, it makes sense to use that water for cooking and preparation of drinks: coffee, tea, etc. If you lack fluoridated water, you might want to consider a multivitamin that includes fluoride.
- Thoreau
P.S. I’ve updated the article and added the following references in response to comments:
[1] Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board
Dietary Reference Intakes (Vitamins and Elements)
http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/dietary-guidance/dietary-reference-intakes/dri-tables
[2] Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health
Fluoride
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/fluoride/
[3] Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Fluoride. Dietary Reference Intakes: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press; 1997:288-313.
[4] Fabiani L, Leoni V, Vitali M. Bone-fracture incidence rate in two Italian regions with different fluoride concentration levels in drinking water. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 1999;13(4):232-237.
Please correct this article. None of this is backed up by science.
Many cities and towns across the globe have stopped their water fluoridation programs in recent years, with many more beginning to phase it out-why? It has been scientifically confirmed for some time now that most people *do not* benefit in any way from an additional fluoride supplement. Look this up! As little as 1/4 tsp. of fluoride will *kill you*. It is used in rat poison. It is used in higher quantities in prison populations-why? It has the “beneficial side effect” of increasing docility and passivity.
The only way to know how much fluoride is in your body is to get tested by a doctor. And even if one is deficient, get this through food, not industrial waste byproducts, which is what is in the water and fluoride “supplements”. It is dangerously bad “science” to mass medicate an entire population through the water-but it’s actually being done on purpose-it’s not to keep your teeth pearly white I’ll tell you-but that’s another topic entirely.
Some people already have an abundance of natural fluoride in their area, and hence, in their bodies, and in those people, additional fluoride produces fluorosis-a condition caused by too much fluoride, which can cause permanent impairment through thyroid damage and softening of the bones (and that’s just two of many side effects)-don’t take my word for it-look it up!
And p.s., if you want your advice to appear credible, add some sources, maybe try presenting both points of view on the matter. Peace.
“The most well-known detriment to a fluoride deficiency is an increase in tooth decay and cavities.”
I think this is something we presume because we’ve been told that for decades, but is there a clinical trial that shows this to be true?
What a load of crap, what kind of kool-aid have you been drinking? Just because the RDA is something doesn’t mean it’s true. Have you actually fact checked any of this bone-strengthening bs you’re spitting out to people?
The bones don’t use fluoride because they want to and it’s tooth strengthening ability is minimally effective for a short term, at best. Over the long term there are correlations to it weakening the bone structure, and this is very likely considering it doesn’t belong in the bones and it’s known to cause fluorisis/osteoperosis and other things, it mimicks not only calcium but it can mimic iodine(an actual truly essential nutrient based on academic standards) - and can disrupt not only your bone matrices and tooth matrices(Which utilize magnesium namely then calcium) but it can get into your thyroid and cause issues there.
If fluoride is needed, it’s needed in very very minute amounts, much lower than what you’re stating here, but as it stands, in scientific literature up to my dates of study it is not required for any processes in the body, and if it is, you’re going to get a residual amount from eating random foods, and if it’s in small enough amounts since it’s negative ion salt it will be passed through your body and will not accumulate at all, and if it’s actually needed for some processes these will be enough, and will ensure no cumulative build up in the bones/brain/thyroid.