Fluoride is naturally present at low levels in most drinking water so can be considered as not requiring treatment unless you have a very specific intolerance.

In the UK there is no artificially added fluoride in Scotland, Wales or Northern Irelend, however; some regional Local Authorities in England have opted to fluoridate the public drinking water supply and there are also a few naturally high fluoride areas.

Here is a list roughly indicating fluoridated and higher natural fluoride areas:

• Most of Northumberland (artificially fluoridated up to a max of 0.99mg/l)
• Most of west Cumbria (artificially fluoridated up to a max of 0.99mg/l)
• County Durham around Hartlepool (naturally occurring up a max of 1.5mg/l in some areas)
• Parts of South Humberside, North Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire (artificially fluoridated up to a max of 0.99mg/l)
• Part of Cheshire around and including Crewe (artificially fluoridated up to a max of 0.99mg/l)
• Most of Staffordshire and the West Midlands including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Coventry (artificially fluoridated up to a max of 0.99mg/l)
• Parts of Worcestershire and Warwickshire (artificially fluoridated up to a max of 0.99mg/l)
• Most of Bedforshire (artificially fluoridated up to a max of 0.49mg/l)
• Parts of Suffolk and Essex (naturally occurring up a max of 1.5mg/l)
• Small area of Wiltshire around Chippenham and Devizes (naturally occurring up a max of 0.99mg/l)
• Small area of Berkshire rast of Newbury (naturally occurring up a max of 0.99mg/l)

You can contact your local water company to obtain a free copy of the water quality test results for the water supply to your home or workplace.

A map showing typical concentrations of fluoride in drinking water supplies across England and Wales can be found on the Defra website.