Fluoride concentration of bottled drinking waters.

The use of bottled water and beverages may be a significant source of systemic fluoride and can therefore be considered as a risk factor for dental fluorosis in young children. The aim of this study was to determine the fluoride content of commercially available bottled drinking waters and to report on the accuracy of the labelling of fluoride concentration. Thirty brands of bottled water, classified as either spring (N = 19) or mineral (N = 11) water were evaluated. A fluoride ions-elective and a fluoride reference electrode were used to measure the fluoride concentrations. The average reading for each brand was compared with the fluoride content printed on the label. Only 56.7% (N = 17) of brands tested mention the fluoride concentration on the label, but 73.3% (N = 22) had a tested fluoride concentration of less than 0.3 ppm. Of the 8 brands testing higher than 0.3 ppm fluoride, 1 did not have the fluoride concentration labelled, while for another the tested fluoride concentration was much higher than the concentration printed on the label. When prescribing fluoride supplements, dentists should be aware of the fluoride content of bottled waters used by child patients, especially brands with a concentration higher than 0.3 ppm.