Tuesday, April 29, 2025
HomeFluorideA World Map Showing Naturally Fluoridated Water

A World Map Showing Naturally Fluoridated Water

Last week, I wrote about how to find out how much fluoride your water contains.  A reader wanted to know what parts of the country contain high levels of fluoride naturally.  In the first year dental school, I learned about the “Colorado Brown Stain” story where some dental researchers discovered fluoride in the water in Colorado and found a link between the fluoride and healthier teeth.

World GlobeI figured that Colorado couldn’t be the only place on earth with high levels of fluoride — and that turns out to be true.  There are several areas in the world where fluoride can naturally be found in the water supply.

After a lot of research, I found a research paper entitled, A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Fluoridation published by the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia.  Using the data that it contained, I constructed the following map that shows the locations in the world that contain greater than 1.5 ppm of fluoride in the groundwater.

Worldwide Fluoride Distribution Chart
Click on the map to see a larger version.

This map visually puts into perspective the fact that water fluoridation isn’t about adding some synthetic chemical to our drinking water, it is simply about adjusting the amount of fluoride in our water to an optimal level that will help prevent tooth decay.

RELATED ARTICLES

6 COMMENTS

  1. There’s nothing natural about the fluoride that’s added to water supplies. Natural fluoride is often calcium fluoride which, in itself, can be deadly at high concentrations even though lots of the calcium stays attached to the fluoride

    The fluoride chemicals that are added to most water supplies in an attempt to reduce tooth decay in tap water drinkers are usually hydrofluosiclicic acid or sodium fluoride, mostly all derived from the silicofluorides scraped from t he smokestacks of phosphate fertilizer plants. This fluoride is collected in the smokestacks because it is illegal to let it flow into the atmosphere because it has killed crops and livestock in the early 20th century.

    This “fluoride” is trucked as hazardous chemicals and injected into water supplies without being purified which means it’s allowed to contain trace amounts of lead, arsenic, mercury and other toxins by NSF International, the governing body over water additives.

    Recently, Kip Duchon the CDC’s chief fluoridation engineer admitted that a lot of the fluoridation chemicals come from China

    A city in Massachusetts recently had to stop using its China-purchased fluoride chemicals because something was wrong with it and it was clogging up their systems. They are unable at this time to figure out what undesirable chemicals are in this new fluoride that’s making it behave this way.

    For more info: Check out http://www.FluorideAction.Net

    • nyscof, you’re seriously confused. The fluoride that goes into fluoridated water comes from the phosphate rock BEFORE it goes to fertilizer plants. The same way that they get phosphoric acid… y’know, that stuff that is in Coke and Pepsi? It IS legal to let it flow into the atmosphere, you just have to have a permit – Intel got in trouble in Oregon for discharging it without a permit for 25 years when they requested an increase in their allowable discharge amount to 6.4 tons per year. 6.4 TONS. They paid a fine for not having a permit of $143,000 and they now have a permit. OOH 143K, they probably shook that much loose change out of their pockets! Our water already has trace amounts of all those scary toxins. There’s always been a maximum allowable amount and it doesn’t change when you add fluoride.

      For REAL fluoride info instead of fearmongerers who have no actual scientific evidence to back up their claims, go to http://ilikemyteeth.org/fluoridation/

      • Maggie I find it off putting that you tell someone they are seriously confused and then continue to say things like “its legal” and “they now have a permit”. At this point in our enlightenment, we should not become combative. We need a respectful collaboration of information in order to sort through the consistent flow of new information.

        How about we share some information on how ingesting fluoride is toxic, just because our bodies can “process” chemicals doesn’t mean it’s safe. Fluoride is only beneficial to teeth if applied topically and should not be consumed. Read the back of your toothpaste and call poison control if ingested. Fluoride is a poisonous contaminant to our bodies on a cellular level. Prove me wrong as respectfully as you can muster, please and thank you.

  2. Hi nyscof. Thank you for the comment.

    I believe that there are pros and cons to water fluoridation. I am not for water fluoridation, and I am not against water fluoridation. Right now, I find myself stuck on the fence.

    You do bring up some valid points. I would prefer that the fluoride be the natural calcium fluoride that is added to our tap water rather than the silica fluorides.

    As far as the fluoride being allowed to contain trace amounts of toxins you may be correct. However, the public water supply does have upper limits on the amount of hazardous chemicals that it can contain.

    I searched for the incident in Massachusetts and found this opinion piece for those who are interested:
    http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_025234727.html?keyword=secondarystory

    It is important to bear in mind that fluoride wasn’t the root cause of this problem, it was perhaps lax Chinese regulations regarding the export of their fluoride. The town did the right thing by suspending water fluoridation and should find out what it is that makes up the residue.

  3. My question regarding this map is: are those places really naturally fluoridated? Or instead of properly containing waste products from factories, etc., do they just let the waste run into the ground? I’m sure whoever collects the research data knows that information from their water analysis, but that’s unclear from that map. Maybe it’s a little of both. I doubt a large portion of this country is improperly disposing of waste products. Just something to think about.

    • Hi Cindy – I’m pretty sure it is naturally fluoridated – they can tell the difference between the natural fluoride and the fluoride that is associated with by-products from industrial applications.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments

kathrine Schwab on Ten Causes of Canker Sores
Rosemary Peter on Ten Causes of Canker Sores
Preston Essic on Dental Patient Rights
Rich Valentino on Dental Patient Rights
Thandolwethu on Teething Baby Pictures
Erin Knutson on Ten Causes of Canker Sores
Kirstie Feyerabend on Can You Keep Your Extracted Teeth?
Robert McKnight on Colored Fillings
Queen Kay (AKA Kaleigh) on 60 Photos of Teenagers with Braces
Carolina on Do Braces Hurt?
Onelesstoothtocompletemysmilebonescollection on Can You Keep Your Extracted Teeth?
Marianne Sites on Colored Fillings
lulu on Do Braces Hurt?
David Abarientos on How Long Does Teething Last?
Shouganai on Colored Fillings
Benjamin Greene on Dental Patient Rights
Laura elliott on Teething Baby Pictures
David Plaster on Ten Causes of Canker Sores
any intelligent mind. on Seven Ways Meth Ruins Your Teeth
Maria on Do Braces Hurt?
Karina on Do Braces Hurt?
Collette hunt on Ten Causes of Canker Sores
Megan on Do Braces Hurt?
A Person (I wish to remain anonymous) on Can You Keep Your Extracted Teeth?
Alison M. on Do Braces Hurt?
Mandarinboop on Do Braces Hurt?
kaito on Do Braces Hurt?
kaito on Do Braces Hurt?
Fidel Márquez Avilés, DDS, MSD on A Trip to The National Museum of Dentistry
Imogen on Do Braces Hurt?
14 year old teenager on 60 Photos of Teenagers with Braces
Dr. Todd Donnelly, D.D.s on What’s In an Amalgam Filling?
Rayna on Do Braces Hurt?
Sarah Kollmansberger on Why Your Dentist Can’t Get You Numb
Ana Howard on Do Braces Hurt?
Ana Howard on Do Braces Hurt?
estrella.reyes on Do Braces Hurt?
Mr. Unidentified Internet creature #3.14159265359 on Seven Ways Meth Ruins Your Teeth
Aisha on Do Braces Hurt?
Charlotte Creasy on How Long Does Teething Last?
Liza on Do Braces Hurt?
Maylin on Do Braces Hurt?
Stella on Do Braces Hurt?
Jim Bon - Muhammad on Six Reasons Why Your Crown Fell Off
Michelle on Colored Fillings
Floyd Mayweather on Seven Ways Meth Ruins Your Teeth
Abigail Rose Mounteney on Do Braces Hurt?
30 years of ice chewing on How Chewing Ice Cubes Hurts Your Teeth
Shawn on Do Braces Hurt?
Jess on Do Braces Hurt?
Jess on Do Braces Hurt?
Rebekah on Do Braces Hurt?
Coooooookie on Do Braces Hurt?
Sydney on Do Braces Hurt?
Sydney on Do Braces Hurt?
Francisco Mayorga on What’s In an Amalgam Filling?
Natasha on Do Braces Hurt?
kahalia on Do Braces Hurt?
nicole on Do Braces Hurt?
Mirah on Do Braces Hurt?
Adesola Adebayo on Double Tooth Photos
kathleen on Do Braces Hurt?
Winny on Do Braces Hurt?
Summer on Do Braces Hurt?
Need a Dental Expert Report on How to Really Win a Dental Malpractice Lawsuit
star on Do Braces Hurt?
star on Do Braces Hurt?
Brandon on Do Braces Hurt?
Joselyn on Do Braces Hurt?
Grace on Do Braces Hurt?
Kimberly on Do Braces Hurt?
Bobbo Jones on Privacy Policy
Alana on Do Braces Hurt?
Sarah on Do Braces Hurt?
Neha on Do Braces Hurt?
Neha on Do Braces Hurt?
Cansas on Do Braces Hurt?
Misha on Do Braces Hurt?
Suppp on Do Braces Hurt?
Sophie on Do Braces Hurt?
Nicky on Do Braces Hurt?
Destiny on Do Braces Hurt?
Destiny on Do Braces Hurt?
Jaine on Do Braces Hurt?
Sophi on Do Braces Hurt?
Monique on Do Braces Hurt?
Ivan on Do Braces Hurt?
Ivan on Do Braces Hurt?
Jaclyn:))) on Do Braces Hurt?
Helena on Do Braces Hurt?
Helena on Do Braces Hurt?
Caitlin on Do Braces Hurt?
Sanah on Do Braces Hurt?
Sanah on Do Braces Hurt?
Sanah on Do Braces Hurt?
Janine Holder on Do Braces Hurt?
Julie on Do Braces Hurt?
Syaza on Do Braces Hurt?
Syaza on Do Braces Hurt?
Chris on Do Braces Hurt?
Torii on Do Braces Hurt?
jesse on Do Braces Hurt?
Kool on Do Braces Hurt?
Bree on Do Braces Hurt?
Sheep on Do Braces Hurt?
Savannah on Do Braces Hurt?
Taije on Do Braces Hurt?
Taije on Do Braces Hurt?
Taije on Do Braces Hurt?
Taije on Do Braces Hurt?
Beauty (NOT a Beast) on Is Sparkling Water Bad For Your Teeth?
Geckonator on Do Braces Hurt?
nichole on Do Braces Hurt?
Yolie on Do Braces Hurt?
Teeth? on Do Braces Hurt?
susan on Do Braces Hurt?
Alexis on Do Braces Hurt?
ScaredGirl on Do Braces Hurt?
Josephine Wadlow-Evans on Dental Suction: Why Dentists Use a Suction
Rayeed on Do Braces Hurt?
Mary on Do Braces Hurt?
Jazlynn on Do Braces Hurt?
Happy after all on Do Braces Hurt?
CHughey on Do Braces Hurt?
Rachel on Do Braces Hurt?
A Peer-Review Dentists Wife on An Alternative to Suing Your Dentist: Peer Review
maddy on Do Braces Hurt?
shahd on Do Braces Hurt?
shahd on Do Braces Hurt?
Hermionefan on Do Braces Hurt?
ashika on Why Teeth Hurt
Sally on Do Braces Hurt?
Kelli on Do Braces Hurt?
Brittani on Do Braces Hurt?
NewDew on Do Braces Hurt?
Samantha on Do Braces Hurt?
Samantha on Do Braces Hurt?
Samantha on Do Braces Hurt?
Maddy on Do Braces Hurt?
Marikit on Do Braces Hurt?
sarah on Why Teeth Hurt
Piccoloplayeratrhs on Do Braces Hurt?
Rosemary on Do Braces Hurt?
shannon santiago on Teething Baby Pictures
Fhyzzie Lee on Do Braces Hurt?
Fhyzzie Lee on Do Braces Hurt?
Hadya on Do Braces Hurt?
Hadya on Do Braces Hurt?
Alan on Do Braces Hurt?
blowfish on Do Braces Hurt?
Caitlin on Do Braces Hurt?
bvb lover on Do Braces Hurt?
Vincent on Do Braces Hurt?
dimple on Do Braces Hurt?
Dee dee on Do Braces Hurt?
samantha on Do Braces Hurt?
julie martinelli on How Long Does Teething Last?
Grace Vlahovic on How Long Does Teething Last?
sammie on Do Braces Hurt?
Iris on Do Braces Hurt?
Melody on Do Braces Hurt?
Sadie on Do Braces Hurt?
Maria on Do Braces Hurt?
Sadie on Do Braces Hurt?
Sydd :D on Do Braces Hurt?
laura on Do Braces Hurt?
Stef on Do Braces Hurt?
Stef on Do Braces Hurt?
Harmony on Do Braces Hurt?
Harmony on Do Braces Hurt?
harmony wheeler-11 on Do Braces Hurt?
harmony wheeler-11 on Do Braces Hurt?
Delaney on Do Braces Hurt?
Delaney on Do Braces Hurt?
Dora Wagner-Gluck on Teething Baby Pictures
Beth on Do Braces Hurt?
Delaney on Do Braces Hurt?
christa on Do Braces Hurt?
Hayley on Do Braces Hurt?
beth on Do Braces Hurt?
beth on Do Braces Hurt?
Vanessa on Do Braces Hurt?
Cassidy on Do Braces Hurt?
Corrinne on Do Braces Hurt?
beth on Do Braces Hurt?
Rachael on Do Braces Hurt?
Jonathan Bird on Is Water Fluoridation Legal?
Corrinne on Do Braces Hurt?
Jennifer on Do Braces Hurt?
mjhrusovsky on Why Teeth Hurt
Chels[: on Do Braces Hurt?
Kera on Do Braces Hurt?
Charlene on Do Braces Hurt?
frankieecool on Do Braces Hurt?
banana lover on Do Braces Hurt?
Kera on Do Braces Hurt?
Kera on Do Braces Hurt?
Jennifer Uriarte on What are Tartar and Calculus?
Bony Delicious on Dental School Finals Week