Be Careful With High-Amount Fluoride Consumption

One of the causes of white spots on teeth is fluorosis. Basically, fluorosis (or dental fluorosis) is caused by the consumption of high amounts of flouride. As a method of prevention, we should know the factors or anything that could contain fluoride. Here are some of them:

1. Fluoridated Drinking Water

Fluoridated drinking water can cause fluorosis

The latest report from Australia, USA, and some other developing countries stating that there is an increase in the number and levels of dental fluorosis in areas that use fluoridation in drinking water. Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride into public water supply in order to reduce tooth decay. It has fluoride at a level that is effective to prevent cavities; this can occur by adding fluoride or naturally. In USA, system of fluoridation have been received since 1945. As a result, in general, children in the United States does not have a cavity even as an adult, but the number of children who have white spots until browned on the surface of the teeth is increasing.

2. Supplements Containing Fluoride

Research states that 25% of cases of fluorosis caused by consuming supplements containing fluoride during the first 8 years of life with excessive dose. The effect of these supplements can cause fluorosis in a mild level. American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that consumption of suplement containing fluoride supplements should be in accordance with the prescription and intake history of fluoride into the body because it has a significant role in causing dental fluorosis. Fluoride supplements should only be given to children who live in areas where drinking water is not fluoridated and it is not allowed in simultaneously usage of mouthwash and toothpaste that contains fluoride.

3. Toothpaste

Many pasta marketed nowadays is toothpaste containing high amount of fluoride, even in children's toothpaste. In fact, children under the age of four years are supposed to use a toothpaste that does not contain fluoride at all, so it does not result the risk of dental fluorosis which is higher in children, since fluorosis can only occur in children or during the growth and development of teeth. Research states that using toothpaste containing fluoride can causes mild-level dental fluorosis in children.

4. Food and Beverage

Dental fluorosis can also be caused by food and beverages consumed by infants and children where the food and drinking water contain high amount of flouride. Foods containing high fluoride is fish, especially edible-bones fish, such as anchovy. Then, beverages containing high fluoride is tea, grape juice, and soft drinks.

Tea contains 2.5 to 10 ppm of fluoride

Recent research reports that grape juice and tea contains more flouride than the fluoridated drinking water. Grape juice containing 1.7 ppm and tea containing 2.5 to 10 ppm. So, if the children are still in growth process, (before the age of 6) consuming a lot of fish, tea, grape juice and other soft drinks will increase the possibility of dental fluorosis.

5. Other Factors

Other factors that could cause fluorosis is the topical application of fluoride during enamel formation which could happen if the children swallow the fluoride that being applied to their teeth. Also, it could be due to inhalation of air containing fluoride that is released from burning coal or phosphate fertilizer production process.

Another Article: White Spots On Teeth - Cause, Treatment, And Prevention

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