Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that is often added to the public water supply to promote better dental health and to prevent dental decay. While fluoride carries some benefits, it is also potentially toxic and can cause severe illness to the point of death in the case of an overdose. Some controversy also exists regarding whether the risks of fluoride supplementation outweigh the benefits. Talk to your dentist or doctor about your concerns regarding your or your child's dental health and fluoride exposure.
Dangers of Fluoride Overdose
If you accidentally ingest a large amount of fluoride, such as eating a large amount of toothpaste or overdosing on vitamins containing fluoride, contact Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 or call 911 if symptoms are present. The symptoms of fluoride overdose include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, drooling, irregular or slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, tremors and convulsions. Treatment options depend on the amount you consumed and might include drinking milk to dilute the fluoride, inducing vomiting or having your stomach washed out with a tube in the hospital.
Other Risks
According to KidsHealth, the recommended amount of fluoride in the public water supply is between 0.7 and 1.2 ppm, or parts fluoride per million parts of water. Even if you ingest only the recommended amounts of fluoride through your water supply and from your toothpaste, you can encounter problems due to the fluoride. In some cases, you may see brown or white spots on your child's teeth as they grow in. This is called dental fluorosis and is caused by the teeth absorbing too much fluoride during formation. In rare cases, fluoride exposure can cause skeletal fluorosis, which occurs when small pits form on the bones in the body.
Benefits of Fluoride
Fluoride, although toxic in high doses, is beneficial to your teeth. The fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash acts as a topical agent to prevent and in some cases, reverse tooth decay. The fluoride in the public water system strengthens a child's or adolescent's teeth while they are still growing. Stronger teeth are more likely to resist dental caries, or tooth decay, making cavities less likely.
Considerations
If you do not have public water, or if your local water supply does not contain enough fluoride, your child's doctor or dentist may recommend fluoride drops or bottled water that has been treated with fluoride. Watch your small child carefully to be sure he is not using too much toothpaste, and use fluoride-free toothpaste with a child who is too young to spit it out. Take your child to the dentist regularly to check for dental caries as well as signs of fluorosis from fluoride exposure.
Member Comments