Fluoride
Category: inorganic
EPA MCL
4 mg/L
Status
EPA Regulated
NSF Standard
NSF/ANSI 58
Health Effects
At levels above 4.0 mg/L: bone disease (skeletal fluorosis). At levels above 2.0 mg/L: dental fluorosis (mottled teeth) in children. EPA also has a secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L. Most U.S. water systems add fluoride at 0.7 mg/L for dental health.
Where It Comes From
Water additive used to promote strong teeth (community water fluoridation at 0.7 mg/L). Also occurs naturally from erosion of natural deposits. Some discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
Where It's Commonly Found
Added intentionally to approximately 73% of U.S. public water systems. Naturally elevated in some groundwater in the western U.S. and parts of the Great Plains.
Nearly all fluoridated community water systems contain fluoride at 0.7 mg/L (intentional). Systems exceeding the MCL of 4.0 mg/L are rare but exist in areas with naturally high fluoride geology.
How to Remove It
Effective Technologies
- reverse osmosis
- distillation
- ion exchange
Does NOT Remove It
- activated carbon
- carbon block
- UV
- KDF
- mechanical filtration
- ceramic
Filters That Address Fluoride
7 filters in our database list Fluoride reduction.
Clearly Filtered Pitcher
pitcher
$90
$165/yr filters
Price checked Apr 2026
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under Sink
under sink
$495
$440/yr filters
Price checked Apr 2026
iSpring RCC7AK
under sink ro
$198
$81/yr filters
Price checked Apr 2026
Waterdrop G3P800
under sink ro
$849
$160/yr filters
Price checked Apr 2026
Brondell Circle RC100
under sink ro
$359.99
$205/yr filters
Price checked Apr 2026
AquaTru Classic
countertop
$449
$114/yr filters
Price checked Apr 2026
AquaTru Carafe
countertop
$349
$104/yr filters
Price checked Apr 2026
Official Sources
Related Contaminants
Learn More
Check if Fluoride is in your water
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Enter Your ZIP Code →Informational guidance based on EPA data and NSF standards - not medical advice.