Fluoride In Tea: Risk, Ranking & Guide (Search 329+ Teas)

Fluoride is naturally derived from soil, water, and food sources. It is also created artificially for use in drinking water, toothpaste, mouthwashes, and different chemical products. But did you know that Fluoride can also be found in tea? Well, you read it right. Fluoride can also be found in tea and is affecting your health slowly.

fluoride in tea

Fluoride in Tea:

The Camellia sinensis plant is used for its leaves to make them green, black, white, and oolong teas. As and when the tea plant grows, it retains Fluoride from the soil and stores it in its leaves.

Notwithstanding, since each kind of tea is made differently, fluoride levels might vary. In addition to being a rich source of Fluoride, 94.9% of the Fluoride in some tea is directly consumed by the body.

A perhaps lethal addition when fused with different sources of Fluoride.

PS: It is important to remember that consumption of tea can also cause health issues due to the high amount of fluoride present in it.

What are the side effects of Fluoride?

An unrestricted exposure to Fluoride has been connected to various medical problems. A few of them are explained in detail below.

Dental fluorosis

The fluoride content of 0.7 ppm is now viewed as best for dental hygiene. A concentration that is above 4.0 ppm could be risky. Exposure to high amounts of Fluoride during a young age, when teeth are developing, can bring about mild dental fluorosis.

There will be small white streaks or spots in the enamel of the tooth. It does not influence the health of the teeth; however, the staining might be perceptible.

dental problems due to fluoride in tea

Breastfeeding infants or producing formula milk with fluoride-free water can assist with protecting kids from fluorosis.

Kids under the age of 6 years should not use a mouthwash that contains Fluoride. Kids should be directed when brushing their teeth to guarantee they do not swallow toothpaste.

Skeletal fluorosis

Excessive exposure to Fluoride can prompt a bone disease known as skeletal fluorosis. Over time, this can cause extreme pain and damage to bones and joints.

The bones might become solidified and less flexible, escalating the risk of fractures. In the event that the bones thicken and bone tissue amasses, this can add to impaired joint mobility.

Fluoride poisoning

An intense, significant level of exposure to Fluoride can prompt to:

  • Stomach ache
  • Excessive saliva production
  • Nausea and constant puking
  • Muscle spasms

Thyroid issues

Sometimes, excessive exposure to Fluoride can damage the parathyroid gland. This can result in hyperparathyroidism, which includes the uncontrolled discharge of parathyroid hormones.

This can result in a reduction of calcium in bone structure and higher-than-usual concentrations of calcium in the blood.

Lower calcium concentrations in bones make them more defenceless to fractures.

Other medical-related conditions

As per the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), an association that campaigns against the use of added Fluoride, it might also add to the accompanying medical conditions:

  • Acne and other skin issues.
  • Cardiovascular issues, including arteriosclerosis and arterial calcification, high blood pressure, myocardial damage, heart deficiency, and cardiovascular breakdown.
  • Reproductive issues, for example, lower fertility and early pubescence in girls.
  • Thyroid dysfunction.
  • Conditions influencing the joints and bones, like osteoarthritis, bone cancer, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
  • Neurological issues, possibly prompting ADHD.


What are the health benefits of drinking tea on a daily basis?

A zillion people all over the world have been drinking tea for hundreds of years and relishing it. Various studies have shown that a variety of teas might help in boosting your immune system, fend off inflammation, and help in warding off heart diseases and cancer.

health benefits of tea

While a few blends give more health benefits than others, there’s a lot of proof that regularly drinking tea can have long-lasting effects on your health.

White Tea

Known to have a very delicate flavour, white tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant that is native to China and India. It is also an under processed tea variety.

Studies have also shown that it is the best tea in battling different types of cancers, thanks to the massive amount of anti-oxidants. White tea may also be helpful for your teeth since it is a high source of Fluoride, catechins and tannins that can strengthen teeth, battle plaque, and make them more resistant to acid and sugar.

This variety also offers the lowest amount of caffeine, making it a very great choice for tea drinkers who need to stay away from or limit their caffeine consumption.

Herbal Tea

Herbal teas, here and there called tisanes, are basically the same as white teas, yet they contain a blend of spices, herbs, fruits or different plants along with the tea leaves. Herbal teas do not contain caffeine, which also is the reason why they are known for their calming properties.

There are various kinds of herbal teas, all with their unique properties. Probably the most mainstream herbal teas include:

herbal tea benefits

Chamomile Tea: Chamomile tea helps reduce menstrual pain and cramps, further helping you relax and sleep while also reducing your stress.

Rooibos Tea: This particular variety of herbal tea improves blood pressure and circulation while promoting good cholesterol while bringing down bad cholesterol. It also helps in making hair strong and skin healthy, along with providing relief from allergies.

Peppermint Tea: Peppermint Tea contains menthol, which can help in soothing an upset stomach and works as a remedy for constipation, peevish bowel disorder and motion sickness as well. This tea variety also offers aid with pain from pressure migraines and headaches.

Ginger Tea: This variety of herbal tea helps to battle against morning sickness, can be used to treat acid reflux and alleviates joint pain caused by osteoarthritis
Hibiscus Tea: Hibiscus tea lowers the fat and pressure levels, helps in improving the liver help, helps in curbing cravings, and may forestall the development of kidney stones.

Green Tea

Green tea was found in China, where the leaves are handled with heat using a pan-firing or roasting technique and in Japan, the leaves are all the more usually steamed.

Green tea is incredibly high in flavonoids that can assist with boosting your heart health by bringing down bad cholesterol and lessening blood clotting. Studies show that green tea can also assist with bringing down pulse, cholesterol and triglycerides.

Other studies have also shown that green tea has specific effects on the liver, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. This tea type has also proved to be calming, which helps keep your skin clear and makes it glowing.

Lately, matcha – a type of green tea – has filled in fame. Matcha is an extremely fine, top-notch green tea powder that is made using the whole leaves of tea bushes grown in the shade. Since it is the only type of tea consumed by the leaves, matcha contains much more antioxidants than standard green tea. Indeed, some have even stated that one cup of matcha is like drinking 10 cups of traditional green tea.

Black Tea

Black tea is produced using the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the very plant that is used to make green tea. Be that as it may, the leaves are dried and aged, giving black tea a darker shading and an extravagant flavour.

cup of black tea

In contrast to other different types of teas available, black tea is caffeinated, so we advise you to check your intake. At the point when you do treat yourself with some black tea, you profit from flavonoids that battle inflammation and give you a healthy immune system.

Nonetheless, you don’t need just to drink black tea to profit from its robust properties. It can be steamed, cooled and afterwards pressed on minor cuts, scratches and wounds to soothe pain and diminish swelling. A black tea shower can likewise ease irritation caused by skin rashes and conditions, for example, poison ivy.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea type that is produced using the same plant used to make green and black teas. The thing that matters is the way the tea is prepared: Green tea is not oxidized a lot, yet black tea is oxidized until it becomes black. Oolong tea is somewhere in the middle of the two, so it is somewhat oxidized. This halfway oxidation is liable for oolong tea’s colour and trademark taste.

Oolong tea is known for containing l-theanine, an amino acid that lessens nervousness and boosts alertness and concentration. Researchers have tracked down that l-theanine can assist with preventing psychological illnesses like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

chinese tea

Oolong tea is also high in polyphenols, which are connected to reducing inflammation, preventing cancer development, and decreasing type 2 diabetes risk.

Now that you know the benefits of all kinds of teas let us discuss how Fluoride gets into the tea!

How Does Fluoride Enter into Tea?

For numerous years we have considered that drinking tea is healthy. Right?

But now, we are convinced on a personal level that tea might be healthy, but ages ago before, global warming and pollution were a thing.

For instance, before the earth’s air and soil were polluted, the tea plant would ingest every one of the healthy substances in its surroundings (given the incredible reputation it has).

Yet, now, with soil and rain/groundwater high in Fluoride because of pollution, the tea plant sadly ingests dangerous and crazy high degrees of Fluoride.

Furthermore, since soil quality changes from one country to another and even within a country, it is not as simple as advising you to avoid tea made in a particular country.

Hence, let us move onto our next segment, where we tell you about things you must remember when it comes to Fluoride in tea.

Less Fluoride in Young Tea Leaves

The Camellia sinensis plant is the thing that delivers the tea leaves for white, green, black and oolong teas. At the point when this tea plant grows, the roots retain Fluoride from the soil and store most of it in the leaves.

The tea plant is explicitly considerably more effective at this process as compared to other plants.

Since older and mature leaves have more time for this deposition, they contain up to multiple times more Fluoride than younger tea leaves.

Anti-Oxidant EGCG Level in Tea Leaves

The strong epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) present in tea is liable for medical benefits like bringing down LDL and also has anti-cancer properties due to the high concentration of anti-oxidants.

The degree of EGCG diminishes in older tea leaves, giving us more reasons to opt for younger tea leaves.

Nature of Tea and Fluoride Content

Younger tea leaves are used in good teas and contain lower fluoride levels.

See the rundown from the greatest to least quality:

  1. Loose tea leaf: Best Quality
  2. Tea dust (tea sacks)
  3. Bottled tea (Fluoride in water along with Fluoride in tea)
  4. Brick tea (the oldest ta leaves that are formed into a brick): Lowest Quality

Japanese green tea has lower levels of Fluoride than Chinese green tea because of the fluoride levels in soil absorbed by the tea plant.

Fluoride Content in Chinese Green Tea versus Japanese Green Tea

fluoride in chinese tea
Chinese tea

The soil in Japan is naturally lower in Fluoride as compared to China, as per the World Health Organization (WHO) reports. In this way, Japanese green tea will naturally have lower fluoride levels than Chinese green tea.

Moreover, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) records, a few places where high naturally occurring fluoride concentration influences tea harvests and drinking water in India, Sri Lanka, portions of Africa and the Middle East.

Unmistakably tea is the primary source of Fluoride around the world.

To add more to it, the vast majority of people use tap water containing Fluoride to brew their tea, putting many people in great danger.

The fluoride levels in tea have been crazy high and have been affecting people at large.

Teas with a label: Caution, Fluoride, should now be made mandatory to warn people about the fluoride content cause teas with extremely high amounts of Fluoride are being sold in the markets worldwide.

Now that you know all about the teas and their fluoride content, we hope it helps you in making intelligent decisions because it is better to be safe than sorry.

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