Reverse osmosis does wonder in removing water substances at the molecular level including PFA, lead, chlorine, and fluoride.
In some parts of the world, especially the United States, fluoride has been added to their water supply since the past. But this isn’t a bad thing because fluoride is safe to consume and helps in preventing tooth decay.
However, too much fluoride can lead to health complications. And this is where reverse osmosis devices come into play.
The importance of removing fluoride is sometimes overlooked by many. But today, we are going to take a deep dive into how reverse osmosis can do wonders in getting rid of fluoride, as well as other chemical substances as well.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural element mostly found in plants, soil, rocks, and minerals. It contains ion, hence the ‘ide’ on its name. Fluoride is mostly used in toothpaste and mouthwashes. Some of the benefits of fluoride include
1. Wards off dental problems
Fluoride helps in getting rid of dental problems such as cavities or gum diseases and gives you a fresher oral cavity and whiter teeth.
2. Prevents tooth decay
Fluoride also helps reverse the effects of tooth decay to prevent it from spreading on your oral cavity. This enables your tooth enamel to heal itself with the help not only from the saliva alone but also with fluoride too.
That’s why it is important to watch out for the things we eat. Always opt for healthy foods and don’t forget to brush your teeth three times a day as well. And with the help of fluoride, it promotes a healthier oral cavity away from bacteria.
But Too Much Fluoride Is a Big No-No
As good as it may sound, too much fluoride is not good for your health. Some municipalities in the United States have added fluoride to tap water. They have been doing this since 1945 and continued to do so in today’s time.
Some of the side effects of too much fluoride includes:
1. Skeletal fluorosis
Too much fluoride can lead to skeletal fluorosis, which is a disease that greatly affects the joints and bones.
If not prevented, it can lead to severe pain over time and may lead to fractured bones. This is because it makes the bones stiff and hardened, preventing you from moving freely.
2. Thyroid dysfunction
Excessive fluoride intake can lead to thyroid dysfunction where the chemical gradually weakens the parathyroid gland as time goes by.
This can lead to loss of calcium that will affect the bones, which connects to skeletal fluorosis we tackled above. Low calcium levels will result in weaker bones and may lead to bone fractures.
3. Fluoride poisoning
Aside from doing wonders to your oral cavity, too much fluoride can also lead to poisoning. This includes seizures, vomit, nausea, and lethargy. Though this will only happen with accidental fluoride exposure such as inside factories, and not from drinking tap water containing fluoride.
4. Cardiovascular problems
This includes arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, arterial calcification, and even worse, a cardiac failure that may lead to life-threatening diseases.
Reverse Osmosis Is Here To Save The Day
But fret not because thanks to reverse osmosis, getting rid of fluoride is now easily done. There is plenty of reverse osmosis (RO) devices available today for household use. Though keep in mind that they come in hefty price tags which can put a toll on your wallet.
That’s why there is no better time than now to start investing in an RO filtration system than now.
Reverse osmosis is the most effective way to get rid of fluoride so you’ll have a cleaner and safer way to drink tap water. The way reverse osmosis works is just the opposite of the naturally-occurring process called osmosis.
Osmosis is a common natural phenomenon where two elements, a high and low concentrated solution are equalized without the use of energy.
Reverse osmosis, as the name suggests, is the reverse version of the osmosis process. Instead of occurring naturally, it needs to be applied with energy for it to be effective.
A prime example of reverse osmosis is by turning saltwater to drinkable water. The way this works is by applying pressure to the saltwater as it passes through the semipermeable membrane.
This filters out harmful chemicals, substances, and microorganisms from the saltwater to make it safer to drink.
Think of it as using a strainer to drain the boiled water from your pasta. Or a window screen to prevent mosquitoes and insects from entering while still getting air at the same time.
The reverse osmosis process has been used by manufacturers in their factories for decades. Today, home-friendly reverse osmosis filtration systems are storming the market that is viable for household use.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Other Substances Aside From Fluoride?
Yes, it can! Not only is it good in getting rid of fluoride, but also harmful substances too such as PFAS, lead, chlorine, bacteria, sodium, and the like. Reverse osmosis is like an all-in-one process that removes a plethora of contaminants that are dangerous for your health.
However, keep in mind that reverse osmosis may be a hit or miss depending on the chemical substance.
Take chlorine, for example, which cannot be removed completely using reverse osmosis. And this is where activated carbon methods come into play. Two of the most common methods are granular activated carbon, and powdered activated carbon.
It’s An Investment Worth Saving For
Investing in an RO filtration system is a must for families that mostly relies on tap water. There’s no denying that its price can surely put a dent on your wallet. That’s why you should start saving up today to enjoy safer tap water.
What’s more is that it also saves you money from buying bottled water. With an RO filtration system, you can have unlimited clean water supply for a lifetime.
You will also reduce your carbon footprint too. Since most bottled waters today are made of plastic, having an RO filter can make you finally bid goodbye in buying these plastic bottled waters.
Jomar Teves
A blogger by day, a tech enthusiast by night, and a downhill mountain biker at the weekends. After four years in business school and working for multinational clients, Jomar believes he can improve the world through his writings. Jomar has six years experience as a writer and is a graduate of the BSBA Entrepreneurial Marketing program. His work has been published on Clutch Points, Blokt and iTech.