Does distilled water have fluoride? If you’re a person who usually wonders if tap water is good and looking for an answer to this question, you’ve come to the right place. I have spent years studying water in detail. To solve your query, I invite you to check out this well-researched guide till the end. Let’s dive into the details!
Table of Contents
Does Distilled Water Have Fluoride – Quick Answer
To provide a quick answer, no, fluoride is not found in distilled water. The process of distillation removes all the impurities effectively from tap water or other water supply, including fluoride.
Compared to drinking tap water, it has the following advantages:
- Prevent kidney stones;
- Protect teeth from too much fluoride that causes discoloration;
- Improve bodily functions.
However, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Continue reading for a detailed explanation, 5 amazing facts about distilled drinking water, and explore potential exceptions. Also, you will get valuable insights into where to find the best-distilled water and how the process works. Let’s dig deeper into this!
Related article: Bottled Water Without Fluoride: 16 Brands That Provide Safe Fluoride-free Water – Water Treatment
An Insight Into the Distilled Water
Distilled water is a product of the process of distillation. It is basically a type of purified water that is boiled, turned into steam, and then returned to the liquid state. It is proven free from all types of containments and is also known to be a preferred type of water.
I found a study done by the University of Georgia, that distilled water is relatively pure in comparison to tap water or other alternatives. Due to its purity, it is commonly used in laboratories and medical facilities.
For more insights, check out this helpful video.
Does Distilling Water Remove Fluoride: Here’s the Truth
Although the exceptions are rare, as a curious person I couldn’t help but wonder about the quality of distillation in every case. Drinking distilled water is a good choice because it’s free from all the impurities including fluoride. However, I came across a few exceptions where you might find fluoride in your water, such as:
- Low-quality water distillation;
- Trouble in water distillers;
- Storing purified water in containers made of materials that can seep fluoride.
It’s important to note that if in any case fluoride is found in distilled water, it will be in a very low amount that is negligible and not harmful.
The Process of Fluoride Removal By Distilling Water
The distillation process removes fluoride mainly by boiling and condensation. This method is quite easy but effective in removing almost all contaminants such as bacteria, and chemicals like fluoride, sulfate, and lead from water. In this process, the following steps take place.
- Water is heated to a point where it starts boiling and turns into steam. In this step, most impurities such as fluoride are left behind in the container because they have a higher boiling point than water.
- Steamed water is condensed into liquid form. While the purified water is collected, many impurities including fluoride that stayed in steamed water are left behind in the distillation apparatus known as the condenser.
- Water is converted into liquid form again, becoming pure drinking water.
Shedding Light On Contaminants Removed by Distilling Water
Here is a table of materials that distillation can remove from drinking water. Let’s have a look!
Contaminant Group | Common Pollutants in Group |
Heavy metals: | Lead, Mercury, Fluoride, Copper, Arsenic, Barium |
Dissolved chemicals like chlorine: | Chloramine, and Pesticides |
Total dissolved solids (TDS): | Inorganic salts like Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Zinc, Lead, Sodium, Bicarbonates, Chlorides, and Sulfates |
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): | Benzene, Dichloromethane (Methylene chloride), an industrial solvent; Trichloroethylene, used in septic system cleaners; and Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene), used in dry-cleaning industry |
Electrolytes: | Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Phosphate |
Sediment: | Rust, Sand, Dirt, Silt |
Pathogenic microorganisms: | Bacteria, Viruses, Cryptosporidium, Algae |
Pharmaceuticals: | Atenolol (a beta-blocker), Carbamazepine (an anticonvulsant), Gemfibrozil (an antilipidemic), Meprobamate (an antianxiety medication), Phenytoin (an anticonvulsant) |
Bad tastes and odors: | Bacteria, Heavy Metals, Chloride Ions, Sulfates |
The Perks of Using Distillation to Remove Fluoride
Now, I have listed some pros of using distillation to remove fluoride.
Let’s check them out:
1. Easy Maintenance
The process of distillation is relatively easy to maintain. Once you have it set up, it will not need to be replaced regularly like other water treatment systems.
When I bought the Mophorn Pure Water Distiller, I was amazed to see its hassle-free operation. All you have to do is press the power button and your distillation process will be started. You don’t have to tweak anything on your device.
2. Pocket Friendly
Drinking distilled water is thought to be expensive but distillation units are usually affordable to buy with most ranging from $50 -$150. The lighter price points make the removal of fluoride convenient for every household.
3. Save Bucks In The Longer Run
Distilled water is cost-effective, and it can greatly help in saving money. Getting bottled water repeatedly can be costly and you will not have to invest in expensive water filters to obtain purified drinking water.
4. Verified Way to Remove Fluoride
The procedure of distillation involves converting water to steam through heating and this step is hugely effective in removing almost all of the contaminants including fluoride.
Then, the next step is condensing the water which purifies it from remaining chemicals or bacteria. This purification combo ensures you have fluoride-free water.
5. Purified Water
Clean drinking water is crucial, and distillation is a great way to make water really pure. Distilled water removes not only fluoride but also a lot of other impurities like chemicals and bad taste.
Related article: Can I Use Bottled Water Instead of Distilled Water? – Water Treatment
When I was researching purified water, I found a study conducted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health seals the debate with the finding that distilled water is 99.9% pure and cleaner.
The Drawbacks of Distilling Water to Remove Fluoride
Below I have listed a few downsides that you need to go through before distilling water to remove fluoride:
1. Time-Taking Process
Distillation is a slow process and requires some extra time as compared to other water treatment techniques. The tap water is heated, converted to steam, and then condensed to a liquid form again. This process can take up to six hours and may require multiple cycles to achieve water with no fluoride at all.
2. Water Tastes Flat
Distilled water is known to be free from certain minerals and impurities. Because of this, it lacks natural minerals that are found in tap water.
3. Requires Electricity
The distillation process requires electricity to heat water to convert it to steam. Compared to other methods which do not rely on electricity, distillation is less energy efficient.
Distilled Water by Brand: The Truth About Their Fluoride Levels
Now that we have covered the pros and cons of drinking distilled water, it’s time to talk about the brands that sell it. On my recent visit to Walmart, while looking for fluoride-free water options I interacted with the salesperson and found out about the 3 brands. Let’s uncover!
1. Acqua Panna
The salesperson shared that Acqua Panna guarantees that their water is completely fluoride-free. And not only that but, they even provided the report of levels of chemicals and substances in their bottled drinking water. It is fluoride-free and does not have any other impurities.
2. Aquafina
Aquafina’s bottled water is another brand I found that provides completely fluoride-free water. Although the store didn’t have any concrete proof, I went on Acquafina’s website and got to know that their water does not contain any fluoride. I’m attaching the link here: Acquafina Fluoride Level.
I also discovered that they ensure that their product is free from every impurity, including fluoride by going through a series of purification methods to make the water exceptionally pure.
3. Smart Water Original
I called the Smart Water helpline and learned that they use the process of vapor distillation to get rid of all the impurities, fluoride inclusive. Furthermore, to add a crisp taste to their water, they add electrolytes. What also impressed me was that they use 100% recyclable bottles.
Comparing Distilled Water With Filtered Water: How are They Different?
If you hadn’t read this guide, you may have continued believing that each type of drinking water is alike. Surprise, it’s not! There are many different types of water. Amazingly, even pure water has its own varieties. As of now, let’s see how filtered water is unlike distilled water.
- Filtered Water: Filtered water is tap water that has gone through some combination of carbon and micron filters. This process helps in clearing out all impurities from water, including bad flavors or unpleasant smells. Still, filtered drinking water has some amount of essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fluoride.
- Distilled Water: On the contrary side, distilled water is a purified form of tap water that has gone through the process of heating, converting to steam, and then condensing back to liquid form. All the contaminants like heavy metals, protozoa, awful taste, unpleasant odors, and other impure substances are removed in this process.
This happens because of the differences in the boiling/cooling points of drinking water and impurities. It is a slow and time-consuming process but a highly effective and reliable method of removing contaminants up to 99.9%. So, distilled water is termed as pure.
Three Alternate Ways of Fluoride Removal
Personally, I like to drink distilled water, and finding alternate ways from distillation was quite a task. However, after some research, I found out that there are many other ways to obtain fluoride-free water.
Let’s take a quick look at some:
1. Reverse Osmosis
In this process, tap water is passed through a semipermeable membrane. It removes fluoride and other substances like heavy materials from the water. This process is known to be quicker and more efficient to obtain distilled drinking water.
2. Activated Alumina
Activated alumina is an absorbent material that can reduce fluoride levels in water significantly. It is easy, and highly effective in removing fluoride than water distillation.
3. Bone Char Carbon
Bone char carbon is known to be the best way to get rid of fluoride till now. It not only removes fluoride from drinking water effectively but also retains useful minerals.
Drinking Distilled Water: Is It Safe?
After going through all the research, I can state with confidence that Yes, it’s safe to drink distilled water. It’s simple water that is free from all the other impurities.
However, distilled water lacks the essential minerals that are typically found in tap water. The names include calcium, magnesium, sodium, and minimal fluoride necessary for bodily functions and to maintain proper dental hygiene.
Here’s a funny but important video. I would recommend you check it out.
Distilled Water Usage: An Insight into Common Uses
Distilled water has various applications. Some of them are listed below:
- Clean Medical Tools: Due to the cleanliness of distilled water, it is used in cleaning medical tools. This is because there is no mineral content in it, which ensures there is no residual matter on the tools.
- Laboratory Experiments: Using impure water can make experiments difficult. To avoid this, lab techs use distilled water in laboratories to clean pieces of equipment.
- Veterinarian: Vets also use distilled water to sanitize their equipment.
- Cosmetics: In cosmetics, water is added as a liquid medium so it can provide benefits to your skin. Otherwise, contaminated water can lead to acne and other skin-related problems.
- Vehicle maintenance: The lead-acid batteries or heat control systems of a vehicle require water. Using water with impurities can corrode the engine and cause a major decline in the battery’s health.
- Cleaning and Other Household Activities: Mineral content in normal water can leave spots and ruin the paint job. This is why, many people use distilled water to clean in their house for brighter, cleaner windows and shinier sinks.
FAQs
Is fluoride-free the same as distilled?
No, fluoride-free and distilled water are not completely the same. Flouride-free means the water has undergone through fluoride removal process whereas in distillation, all the impurities are removed from the water.
Does the distillation of water produce 100% fluoride-free water?
The distillation of water produces up to 99.9% of fluoride-free water. It also removes other impurities from the water too. Keep in mind that no water purification method is 100% effective.
How is the resulting fluoride water purity achieved by water distillation?
The distillation process involves, Heating water until it becomes steam and then condensing the steam to obtain purified water.
Conclusion
Let’s windup does distilled water have fluoride? No, it does not contain fluoride. The process is quite time-consuming but highly effective in removing all impurities like bacteria, odors, bad taste, and chemicals. This process requires little to no maintenance, you will only have to clean out the boiling chamber to prevent any buildup.
While distilling water removes fluoride, there are many other ways to obtain purified water other than using a water distiller such as reverse osmosis systems, boiling water, and water filters. These ways are also effective.
However, don’t forget to drink water cautiously by knowing it’s missing out on natural minerals.
Recommended read:
Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water: What’s the Difference? – Water Treatment