Does Tea Contain Fluoride?
Updated on November 3, 2026
All tea contains trace amounts of fluoride. These amounts can vary, but only according to the content in the soil.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil and our oceans, lakes and rivers. Thus this mineral is naturally found in many agricultural products and in our marine life. As studies have demonstrated, fluoride is important for the development of strong teeth.
Fluoride in Water
The vast majority of fluoride consumption for people in the U.S. is from water given the amount consumed each day. The EPA has strict guidelines for the amount of fluoride allowed in water:
- 4.0ppms per 8oz. of drinking water
- 2.4ppms per 8oz. of bottled water
The allowable level recognizes that people consume multiple 8oz servings per day.
Fluoride in Tea
Fluoride is naturally occurring in green and black tea (Camellia Sinensis). The tea plant accumulates fluoride from the soil therefore, both caffeinated and decaffeinated teas have fluoride. The amount of fluoride will vary based upon the season, growing conditions and weather.
Bigelow Tea Fluoride Testing
Each crop varies in terms of fluoride level. Bigelow Tea testing consistently shows there are ranges in levels. Typically, our testing ranges between 2 and 4ppms in the cup for green tea, black tea and decaffeinated tea. To give these small amounts perspective, a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste has over 1000ppms.
As an additional point of reference, seafood can contain from 5 – 50 ppms per serving.
Source
Mankar N, Kumbhare S, Nikhade P, Mahapatra J, Agrawal P (2023) Role of Fluoride in Dentistry: A Narrative Review. Cureus 15(12):e50884. PMID 38249196. PMCID PMC10799546. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10799546/