++ Fluoride has been in the news lately because recommendations for it are changing. The Institute of Medicine periodically reviews and up-dates the RDA charts (Recommended Dietary Allowances and related information). Let's look at some basic information about fluoride and at what the up-dates mean for you.
What is fluoride? What does it do? Fluoride is a usable form of the mineral fluorine - a mineral in the sense that a chemist uses. Pure fluorine is a poisonous gas. In the form of fluoride, it is a helpful nutrient. If an infant or child consumes the right amount of fluoride, teeth and bones will be stronger. It is also helpful for adults, but the effect may be less pronounced. With regular intake, it also is in the saliva. As saliva bathes your teeth, the fluoride helps them resist the acid that causes cavities and helps kill the bacteria than contribute to making that acid. Consistently getting enough fluoride can cut a child's life-time risk/incidence of tooth decay by half.
Where do I get fluoride? Fluoride is naturally in water. Some parts of the country have too little in their water supplies, some have too much; a few are just right. Some states and some cities have laws about adjusting the amount of fluoride put into city water systems. Typical levels of fluoridation of water supplies have been 0.7-1.2 parts per million (about 1/4 mg/cup). The new recommendations are to stay near the low end of that range.
It is rarely in bottled water, although it is added to a few brands that are targeted to infants and small children. When water is filtered, some fluoride is removed. How much is left depends on the kind of filter and whether it is being used properly. As a rule, charcoal filters (like those in filtration pitchers) leave you with more than reverse-osmosis.
Tea leaves and sea food contain varying amounts of fluoride but it is not in other foods unless it comes from the water used in cooking. There are also supplements you can buy - mouth rinses, pills similar to vitamins, etc. Tooth paste with fluoride is a useful topical application, but it can't do the job by itself.
Why are the recommendations changing? Unfortunately, if a child consistently gets too much fluoride, teeth are prone to mottling, which means brownish spots on the teeth. In minor cases, this just looks bad, and in fact, the teeth are quite strong. In severe cases, the teeth can be crumbly. As alternative forms of fluoride supplementation become more effective and more common, less is needed in drinking water - speaking of the country as a whole. (Your community may have an unusual situation.)
Bottom line: Use fluoridated water if it is available. And, next time you are due for a dental exam, ask your dentist about what is recommended in your circumstances, and about what is best for your children. Smile!
I really wonder about the safety of consuming fluoride. Personally I think it should be topical only and never put in things we are meant to consume and digest like drinking water.
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