| Bottled water has rapidly become a very popular drink. | | | | Conclusions: |
| In this age of convenience bottled water fits in very | | | | 1. Fluoride in the water is both positive and negative |
| well with many new modern lifestyles. It provides | | | | depending on who is drinking it. |
| portable and handily available purified and sanitized | | | | 2. Kids benefit from the fluoride helping to reduce the |
| drinking water. It is also an upgrade from the many | | | | amount of a dental decay. However this is a doubtful |
| artificially or with high fructose corn syrup sweetened | | | | benefit for most adults and there is some concern that |
| drinks that have flooded the market. | | | | the fluoride ion in tap water reacts with the some of |
| The question is whether or not it is a great | | | | the trace chemicals in the tap water making them |
| improvement over tap water. | | | | more carcinogenic. |
| On the positive side tap water is cheap, basically safe, | | | | 3. It is my opinion that fluoride is best applied topically |
| easily available, has fluoride which can help prevent | | | | by your dentist or hygienist for the most effective |
| tooth decay, has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH, usually | | | | protection of your teeth with minimal systemic side |
| contains some good minerals and depending on where | | | | effects. |
| you’re at can have a good taste. | | | | 4. High fluoride concentration tooth gels can be used |
| On the negative side tap water can be polluted with | | | | by high-risk adults and by kids under supervision to |
| many industrial chemicals that are not totally removed | | | | avoid excess swallowing of the gel. 2-3 times a week |
| by the water purification systems, can contain | | | | is enough to be effective. |
| excessive amounts of iron, sulfur or fluoride, can draw | | | | 5. Having an occasional bottle of water is not a health |
| lead or copper from the pipes, and on occasion he | | | | risk. Drinking only bottled water could be a problem. |
| contaminated with bacteria and waste products from | | | | The best of both worlds would be to buy a water filter |
| occasional flooding. | | | | and alkalizing unit that will purify your tap water and |
| On the positive side bottled water is safe from | | | | increase the pH of the water up to 9. There are many |
| bacterial infections, can taste good, easily portable, can | | | | health benefits in doing this. Alkaline water increases |
| have an alkaline pH and be free of fluoride. | | | | your body’s ability to neutralize excess acid ions |
| On the negative side bottled water is very expensive, | | | | that come from the high amount of acid foods and |
| has usually a very acid pH, has no fluoride in the water, | | | | liquids we ingest. This will help the body reduce |
| may have very few nutritional minerals, may contain | | | | inflammation, tooth decay and enamel erosion in the |
| unacceptable levels of the plastic chemicals | | | | mouth and generalized water retention. Weight loss |
| (bisphosphonates) that leech from plastic containers. | | | | and lower blood pressure is another benefit. |