Does Tea Contain Fluoride?
Published on February 26, 2026
Yes. 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 overwhelming source of fluoride for most people in the U.S. is water. The EPA has strict guidelines for the amount of fluoride allowed in our drinking water, 4.0ppms. The allowable level in bottled water is 2.4ppms.
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
All Bigelow testing for fluoride have consistently shown levels that range between 1 and 2ppms in the cup. As a reference point, a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste has over 1000ppms.
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/