Fluorine and Fluoroses

and in the teeth.

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Considered essential by some and only beneficial by others, it is important for the mineralization of the skeleton and enamel. Hence the idea of ​​using fluoride in the prevention of dental caries and bone fractures resulting from osteoporosis.

, reaching important concentrations in fish and seafood; tea, potatoes (especially the peel), cereals, beer, spinach and other vegetables are also good sources of fluoride.

In mineral waters the concentrations are very variable, tendentially close to zero in the much advertised oligominerals and minimally mineralized, maximum in the fluorinated ones, where the content of the element is higher than 1 mg / l.

of fluoride in the form of drops or tablets has been proposed in children to reduce the incidence of caries and promote bone mineralization. Starting from the 1950s, in some countries, fluoridation interventions of drinking water have been undertaken, to guarantee the population an adequate supply of the mineral.

However, also considering the results of the experiment, the usefulness of a systematic administration of fluoride is still much debated, due to the important side effects that emerged from numerous studies.

While it is true that deficiency increases the risk of dental caries, especially in early childhood, it is also true that an overdose of fluoride causes a particular pathological picture, known as fluorosis.

The first sign of a "hyper uptake of the mineral is the appearance of white spots on the enamel of the teeth which, as the fluorosis worsens, evolve into real grooves and cavities. If you consider the low daily intake requirement, it is easy imagine how thin the line is between deficiency and excess, as well as between risks and benefits.

Complicating the situation even further is the fact that the damage from excess fluoride is cumulative. This means that the mineral tends to remain in the bones, reaching high concentrations following chronic over-intake. If, on the one hand, the bony deposit of fluoride increases the density of the skeleton, on the other, it must not be forgotten that a healthy bone is a flexible bone. A rigid structure has a lower breaking load (that is, it is less resistant to pressure, i.e. breaks more easily) than an elastic structure.

In addition to dental and skeletal alterations, the side effects of chronic fluoride overdose also include cases of severe mental and systemic alterations (enzyme and mineral deficiencies, endocrine and immune disorders, increased risk of fractures).

from overdosing (tooth enamel mottling);

if the over-intake continues for long periods of time it is accompanied by very dangerous nervous, dental and skeletal alterations;

since the toxic dosage is located at values ​​just above the optimal ones and that it is not possible to control a priori the daily intake of fluoride, as this depends on many factors (consumption of fish, type of mineral water chosen, toothpaste used, drinking water, etc.), spontaneous use of fluoride-based supplements is absolutely not recommended;

caution in pregnancy. The practice of fluoridation of water is also to be condemned, precisely because of the enormous quantity of factors capable of shifting the balance from "equilibrium to" excess, from utility to toxicity.

If you want to maintain healthy teeth and prevent cavities, the imperative is to respect the right combination between adequate oral hygiene and moderation in the use of sweets, replacing these foods with healthier ones (fruit, whole grains and vegetables in primis). In the adult individual at medium-low risk of caries, the use of toothpastes with standard fluoride content (1,000 ppm) is sufficient.

The possibility of using specific supplements to improve one's bone and dental health must always be discussed with the doctor or dentist, who, for their part, should perform a "careful investigation to evaluate the daily intake through the sources." Finally, administering fluoride pills in childhood is in some ways a diseducating intervention, as it teaches the child to subject his health to drugs.

For further information: Foods Rich in Fluorine