Fluoride in drinking water in Oxford County

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UPDATE FOR RESIDENTS, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Oxford County municipal water systems are supplied by groundwater from underground aquifers. Fluoride is naturally present at varying levels in Oxford County water sources. Oxford County does not add fluoride to the municipal drinking water provided to its serviced customers.  

Water that contains fluoride up to 2.4 mg/L is considered acceptable to drink by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Oxford County municipal drinking water does not exceed 2.4 mg/L and meets or exceeds all Ontario Drinking Water Standards. The bacteriological safety of municipal drinking water is not affected by fluoride levels, meaning the water is safe to drink.

Notice of fluoride levels 

When fluoride levels are in the range of 1.5 – 2.4 mg/L, the Ontario Ministry of Health recommends heightened public awareness to educate people on how to manage exposure from other sources of fluoride, such as food and toothpaste. This is to protect against dental fluorosis in young children. 

Accordingly, this Health Advisory is to advise residents, health care professionals and other users of the municipal drinking water system that fluoride levels in the following Oxford County communities have tested above the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) of 1.5 mg/L.

HEALTH CONSIDERATION: DENTAL FLUOROSIS IN YOUNG CHILDREN  

Fluorosis is a dental condition caused by exposure to fluoride while teeth are forming in the gums (usually ages 0-6 years). Fluorosis can cause small white flecks on teeth or larger white areas or, at higher fluoride levels, pitting or brown areas. Fluorosis is considered cosmetic in nature and not a health condition.

Drinking water below the maximum acceptable concentration of 1.5mg/L will protect against moderate dental fluorosis in children while helping to protect against cavities. However, water containing fluoride levels above 1.5 mg/L may cause fluorosis in children. It is difficult to predict if fluorosis will occur and what it will look like.

The following recommendations are intended to minimize the effects of fluoride exposure in the drinking water system where fluoride levels are above 1.5 mg/L:

1.     Non-fluoride toothpaste. Consider using non-fluoride toothpaste for children up to and including 6 years of age, or no toothpaste for children up to 3 years of age, especially for children who may swallow toothpaste. Parents should only use a small amount of toothpaste (pea-size or a smear) regardless of fluoride levels in the water and should always supervise the amount of toothpaste being used.

2.     Don’t use fluoride supplements. Fluoride supplements should not be used in areas with naturally occurring fluoride.

3.     Consult with your dentist. A fluoride treatment at the dentist is not likely to contribute to fluorosis; however, parents should discuss the use of any dental products with their dentist.

4.     Water treatment*. You can use a home treatment system to remove or reduce the fluoride content if there are young children in the home. Only reverse osmosis and distillation processes remove fluoride. Charcoal filters do not remove fluoride.
*Oxford County’s municipal drinking water system does not require additional water treatment. This is only a recommendation for households with fluorosis concerns. 

5.     Use other sources of water. If it is not possible to use a home treatment system, consider using water from another source with a lower fluoride level (e.g. non-fluoridated, bottled water) for drinking, cooking, mixing juices or making baby formula, especially when there are young children in the home. Bottled water, like tap water, must be boiled and cooled when used to make baby formula.

More information

If you have questions about fluoride in your drinking water, please consult your health care professional, or call Southwestern Public Health at 1-800-922-0096. More information is available online at www.swpublichealth.ca.