Dental Fluorosis

There has been some evidence to show that water fluoridated at 1ppm can cause mild dental fluorosis, but at such low levels it only occurs in the minority of the population. Dental fluorosis has been more associated with fluoride uncontrolled water supplies, (where fluoride naturally occurs in high levels, with the inappropriate use of fluoride supplements, and from children using high fluoride toothpastes and swallowing after brushing. Therefore the best way to avoid dental fluorosis is to have your water supply tested for it's fluoride concentration and adjusted to 1ppm, only use supplements for children as directed and ensure that children use low fluoride toothpaste and don't swallow the toothpaste.

When ingested in large amounts fluoride is toxic, and can be fatal. However, in an optimally fluoridated water supply a person weighing 50kg would have to drink 250 liters of water in one sitting for the fluoride to be dangerous. Therefore fluoride poisoning from a fluoride-controlled water supply is bordering on the impossible.

When excess fluoride is ingested it is deposited in the bones. This can lead to a thickening of the bones leading to brittleness. This has been associated with hip fractures in the elderly, but once again skeletal fluorosis is uncommon at low fluoride levels. It is more associated with uncontrolled fluoride in water supplies and multiple sources of fluoride ingestion. In conclusion, it has become apparent that the risks associated with fluoride are uncommon in areas where the fluoride in the water supply in controlled and kept at 1ppm. Therefore, the fluoridation of water supplies may be a good preventive measure for fluorosis.

There is no evidence to support the idea that fluoride is carcinogenic, or that fluoride allergy exists.

© The Center for Pediatric Dental Care

Center for Pediatric Dental Care * 1560 Beacon Street * Brookline, MA 02446 * 617-731-KIDS (5437)