People are becoming increasingly conscious about the water they are drinking. That’s why they care so much about the purity of water and the chemical compounds that go into the water. For example, one such chemical compound is fluoride.
Even though fluoride has some benefits for our dental health, some people prefer fluoride-free water. That’s why they try to remove it through water distillation. But does distilling water remove fluoride?
Does Distilling Water Remove Fluoride?
Distilling water does remove fluoride. During the process of water distillation, water is heated until it starts to boil and evaporate. Since boiling temperature is lower for water than for other chemical compounds usually found in water, these compounds don’t evaporate. Fluoride is one of those compounds that don’t evaporate with water, but stay behind instead.
The evaporated water steam travels to condensing coils or tubes, cools down, and becomes liquid again. Now it’s 100% pure water, free of fluoride and other compounds or contaminants.
Keep in mind that not all distillation methods and distillation equipment are equally efficient. For example, home distillers remove 95-99% of fluoride from water, while industrial distillers can remove 100%. Yet, distillation is still considered the best method to remove fluoride from water.
What Is Fluoride and What Does it Do to Water
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, rocks, and groundwater. However, even though fluoride can naturally occur in water, we have started adding small amounts anyway because it can prevent or reduce tooth decay.
Fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel. This makes your teeth more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria and sugars. As a result, it reduces the risk of cavities. Fluoride can also help remineralize early tooth decay. When enamel begins to weaken, fluoride supports the rebuilding process by attracting minerals like calcium and phosphate back into the tooth surface.
That’s why you’ll find fluoride as a key ingredient in many toothpastes, as well as in the drinking water.
However, not all people want to ingest fluoride when drinking water. There are several reasons behind this. For example, some people are sensitive to additives and various chemical compounds, including fluoride. Other people simply want to drink as pure water as possible.
Distillation Vs Other Fluoride-Removal Methods
There are also other fluoride-removal methods you could try: reverse osmosis, filtering, and using carbon fibers.
Reverse osmosis works by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks minerals and contaminants. As such, it removes a high percentage of fluoride, somewhere between 90 and 95 percent. However, reverse osmosis requires more maintenance and filter replacements.
You can also try filtering options. One such option is alumina filters. Activated alumina filters can also remove fluoride, but they need the right water conditions to work properly. In other words, they perform best when water has a specific pH range.
Also, their filter media must be regenerated or replaced regularly. This makes them more technical to manage, which can be too complicated for a home application.
Some people try carbon filters, but they don’t help much with fluoride removal. Carbon filters are good for removing chlorine and improving taste, but they do not remove fluoride. If you want more options that could work for removing fluoride, we suggest that you research these options:
- Deionization (DI) / Ion-Exchange Systems
- Bone Char (Bone-Based Carbon)
Pros and Cons of Using Distilled Water to Remove Fluoride
Water distillation is one of the most dependable fluoride-removal methods available. It also removes other impurities at the same time. Another great thing about this method is that you don’t have to change filter cartridges or constantly check system performance. It is also rather a cheap option.
However, there are also some cons that come with using distilled water. The process strips water from every mineral, not just fluoride. The distilled water can taste flat or unfamiliar, plus it lacks some useful minerals that your body needs.
Distillers also use electricity, which can raise operating costs. The distillation process is rather slow compared to filtration systems.
You will also need to clean your water distiller regularly. Since everything removed from the water stays behind in the boiling chamber, there will be some buildup. Still, you can find ways to minimize the drawbacks.
For example, you can still use non-distilled water for washing things or personal hygiene. You can also buy fluoride-free bottled water brands to still get other healthy minerals while avoiding fluoride.
Keep in mind that, just because there are some drawbacks to using distillation to remove fluoride, this is still the best option.
CO-Z Water Distillers For Fluoride Removal
1. CO-Z 1.1 Gallon Water Distiller
This 750W CO-Z tabletop distiller provides fluoride-free water quickly and safely with its 750W system. This 750W water distiller provides 2 ppm water at 0.3 gallons per hour. It's 1.1 gallon (4L) capacity ensures an adequate supply of fresh water to meet your daily hydration needs.
It has a stainless steel build and a borosilicate glass pitcher, and it is useful for drinking, cooking, coffee makers, and CPAP machines.
Final Words on Distilled Water and Fluoride
Distilling water is a great method to remove fluoride from your water. You can also try other methods, such as reverse osmosis or active alumina filtration, but distillation is by far the most effective, simple, and affordable. However, keep in mind that distillation comes with certain cons, as there is no perfect fluoride removal method.
You might also be interested in how a water distiller removes microplastics.
