Fluoride - Friend or Foe?

Fluoride is a natural mineral found in many foods and water. Our mouth and teeth seem to shelter a recurrent flow of minerals daily, mostly like the tide of seas and oceans. Every day, minerals are added to and lost from a tooth's enamel layer in two processes, demineralization and remineralization.

Demineralization process takes place when minerals are lost from a tooth's enamel layer as a result of acids attacking the enamel. The acids are formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth.

But counteraction - remineralization - follows, during which minerals such as fluoride, calcium and phosphate from the foods and waters consumed redeposit to the enamel layer.

The primary source of tooth decay and cavities is too much demineralization without enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer.

Consequently, Fluoride is a real friend of our health and teeth, in particularly, and in safe levels (0.7 - 1.2 parts per million) it is non-toxic. On the contrary, regular use of fluoride is of critical importance for control and prevention of tooth decay. It builds stronger teeth while they are forming, such as during pregnancy for the fetus and during childhood and helps us all through life's course to have healthy and shining white teeth.

Dian Dooley, Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii mentions three beneficial ways of fluoride's action upon our dentition, as it offers:

1) Stronger crystals within the tooth enamel, because fluoride becomes part of the tooth structure, itself;

2) Protection by being part of the saliva and keeping the teeth from losing minerals or stopping early lesions that might lead to caries;

3) Direct action on the bacteria that are part of the process of decay, by interfering with their growth processes.

People that suffer from a series of oral conditions (dry mouth conditions, gum disease, frequent decays etc.) can benefit from additional Fluoride treatments, but it is recommended to see a dentist first.

Nevertheless, we should be very careful with Fluoride, because it can become toxic and have side effects when used in high amounts. Excessive use of Fluoride leads to fluorosis - an oral condition resulting in mottled enamel of human teeth. The effects range from white flecks to brown staining or even pitting of denture. This happens mostly when the teeth are forming, usually to children under 6, while individuals whose teeth have erupted are not at risk.

Excess of Fluoride can also have side effects on bones and cause the installation of skeletal flourosis, a debilitating condition that occurs when fluoride accumulates in bones, making them extremely weak and brittle.

Sources of Fluoride are various, starting with fluoridated water and the foods that have been cooked in it, fluoridated salt and fluoridated dental products like toothpaste. Other sources rest in common beverages - sodas, green and black tea, wine, beer - or foods like fish, seafood, cooked wheat cereal etc.