The American Dental Association is going after the bottled water industry and asking them to change their product because they have discovered that the incidence of tooth decay in children has been on an increase that parallels the growth of that industry. They are making their point with the industry and many companies are now adding fluoride to their bottled water. This should be of great concern to the 54% of American households which have family members who should not have any fluoride in their water supply and have relied on cheap bottled water as a good source.

Fluoride, as sodium fluoride, was added to most home water supplies within the U.S. after extensive research showed that it hardened the tooth enamel in children and thus helped to prevent tooth decay. However, the same type of research has been performed on dogs, with the results being quite different. i.e. Research reports (based on the studies by Biester et. al.) showed that the addition of fluoride to the water supply for canines caused mottling of the tooth enamel during the period of calcification of the permanent teeth. Even trace amounts that were less than the .045 to 4.5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, comparable with the quantity found in tap water, caused mottling of the tooth enamel. More research studies (i.e. those conducted by Andreeva) reported findings that the addition of fluoride at 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight daily for 92 days to the diet of month-old pups altered serum calcium and inorganic and organic phosphorus concentrations significantly. There are many other reports showing drinking water that contains fluoride can cause many nutritionally related problems for dogs.

When bottled water first came to market it was hard to find one that contained fluoride. Fortunately for human children, but unfortunately for our pets, this is changing. The reason I buy bottled water is based on the requirements of the animal that will be consuming it. The only member of my household that drinks bottled water is my dog. The humans in my house drink fluoridated tap water. It is my hope that some of the bottled water companies will continue to provide a water supply that is nutritionally correct for the members of my home who have different nutritional requirements than my human children.


This article was written by The Animal Advocate