You’re standing in your kitchen, thirsty for a glass of water. So you pour yourself a glass from your refrigerator’s dispenser. As you take a sip, you wonder, “How do I know this water is safe?”
To be honest, it’s a disturbing concept. It is, nonetheless, a vital question to pose. After all, many consumers purchase a refrigerator with a built-in water dispenser and assume it would dispense clean water.
But, in any case, how effective are refrigerator filters? Do refrigerator filters remove fluoride?
What Is Fluoride?
Fluorides are substances that include fluorine and another material, usually metal. Fluoride monofluorophosphate, sodium fluoride, and stannous fluoride are examples (MFP fluoride).
Some fluorides can be found naturally in soil, air, or water, though fluoride levels can vary greatly. Fluoride is found in almost all drinking water. Fluoride can be found in both plant and animal foods.
Fluorides enter the body through the digestive tract and are absorbed into the bloodstream. They move through the bloodstream and tend to collect in calcium-rich regions like the bones and teeth.
Is Fluoridated Water Harmful To Your Health?
Advantages
- Fluoride protects teeth from decay by forming a link with them, allowing them to develop a resistance to the acid produced by bacteria.
- Water fluoridation has been endorsed by medical and dental organizations all around the world. It is considered by experts to be a safe and effective method of protecting teeth and reducing cavities.
- Water fluoridation is considered one of the top ten most important public health policies of the twentieth century, according to scientists.
- According to studies, having a balanced level of fluoride in water prevents tooth decay by about 25% over a lifetime.
- Fluoridation of water is inexpensive on an individual and community level.
- Children who have been drinking fluoridated water since birth had stronger teeth in maturity, according to studies.
Disadvantages/Threats
- Thyroid Issues
People who take a lot of fluoride risk having their parathyroid glands destroyed. This injury might result in a constant release of parathyroid hormones.
As a result of the abnormally high calcium content in the blood, bones begin to lose calcium. In people who eat high quantities of fluoride regularly, lower calcium levels in the bones can increase the risk of fractures and breaks.
- Problems with the nervous system
According to a 2017 study, pregnant women exposed to higher fluoride concentrations have a higher risk of giving birth to babies with inferior cognitive abilities. Furthermore, larger quantities of this mineral have been associated with lower IQ. According to one study, fluoride is neurotoxic that may harm children’s cognitive development.
- Damage to the teeth and bones
Fluoride overuse, particularly in drinking water, can trigger dental fluorosis, which affects the teeth and bones. Fluorosis creates brittle and inelastic bones and teeth, which can lead to fractures, joint damage, tooth injury, and infection.
- Health concerns
Skin disorders, cardiovascular troubles, and reproductive disorders have all been related to excessive fluoride exposure. All of these difficulties, as well as proof of fluoride policy corruption, have sparked an anti-fluoride movement that isn’t going away anytime soon.
How Do Refrigerator Filters Work? Do Refrigerator Filters Remove Fluoride?
Most refrigerator filters won’t be able to remove toxins like arsenic, fluoride, nitrate and nitrite, barium, selenium, and radium if you want to eliminate as many as possible.
Because refrigerator filters only employ a carbon filter, which has limitations in terms of contaminant removal. So, if you want to remove the most contaminants, you’ll need a carbon filter with a reverse osmosis filter or a carbon filter with another medium.
Although many carbon filters are highly effective, the types of contaminants that these filters may remove are limited.
If you’re not concerned about the toxins listed above, a generic refrigerator filter might suffice. However, you must collect information about the filter. To validate the manufacturer’s claims, we recommend purchasing filters that have been tested by third-party labs.
How To Test If Water Is Fluoridated?
In the United States, not every city fluoridate its drinking water. Each city decides on whether or not to fluoridate.
If you live in specific states, the CDC has a tool you can use to verify your local water supply. This tool will tell you if your city’s water is fluoridated. You’ll be able to see how much they add if it does.
If your city’s water isn’t fluoridated, but you’re interested in fluoride’s dental health advantages, try:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and once a day with fluoride mouthwash (not recommended for children under 6 years of age)
- Enquiring with your doctor about a fluoride treatment from a professional.
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FAQs
Do refrigerator water filters remove bacteria?
Refrigerator water filters typically employ carbon and have a 20-micron rating, which means they mostly remove impurities that affect taste and smell. Refrigerator water filters cannot guarantee that all particles and germs that may be hazardous to those who drink the water are removed.
How to remove fluoride from my water?
Distillation is a simple and cost-effective way to remove fluoride from water. As the water heats up, the steam from the boiling water evaporates and is collected in another container. Fluoride and other pollutants are left behind throughout this process. When the vapors in the other container cool, they return to being pure and distilled water.
Is it possible to distill water at home, though? You can either get a distiller to do the work for you or do it yourself. Follow these steps to distill your water at home without using big machinery:
- Fill a pot halfway with water and place it on the heat.
- Inside the pot, place a stainless steel bowl. Ensure that the lip is above the water’s surface.
- Place an upside-down concave lid over the pot. It should be able to produce a secure seal.
- On top of the lid, place an ice pack.
- Heat the water to the point when it begins to boil. Steam will rise towards the chilly lid as the water develops steam. Steam will condense fast, forming droplets that will trickle into the stainless steel basin.
- Continue heating the water until the desired amount of distilled (fluoride-free) water is obtained.
What happens if you don’t replace your refrigerator’s water filter?
Failure to change the water filter in your refrigerator can result in scaling and deposit building in the water and ice machine, causing major damage to your refrigerator. This buildup causes the system to slow down, resulting in poor flow and a change in the flavor of your water.
For further information, watch this video:
Conclusion
Is fluoride removed by refrigerator water filters? This is a common query we get from people who have refrigerators with built-in filtration systems.
Unfortunately, most refrigerator water filters are carbon filters, which are incapable of removing pollutants like fluoride. However, this does not rule out the possibility of removing such impurities. No, you should look for a carbon filter that also includes a reverse osmosis filter. You will successfully eliminate fluoride from your drinking water by doing so.
