Fluoride content of bottle drinking water in Saudi Arabia and its relation to the prescription of preventive regimens

Objective: In recent years, bottled drinking water have been replacing tap water in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. The objective of the present investigation was to report on the fluoride content of bottled drinking water available in Saudi Arabia on the basis of manufacturer's labelling and to assess the need of daily fluoride supplement based on our findings. Material and Methods: Fluoride content from the label of 26 different brands of still and sparkling water were investigated, tabulated and assessed for relative daily intake. Results: This study shows that these bottles of water contain different concentrations of fluoride, ranging from 0.01 to 0.8 mg/L, while most of the imported brands did not indicate their fluoride content on the labels. Conclusion: This study concludes that some children may be getting more than the recommended dose of fluoride while others may require further fluoride supplements. It is recommended that dentists should be aware of the fluoride content of the drinking water before prescribing fluoride supplements.