Fluoride

October 3, 2020

Overview

Fluoride is a form of the chemical element fluorine. It is used as medicine.

Fluoride is added to public drinking water to prevent tooth decay. Children who do not drink fluorinated public water because their homes use water from a private well often take fluoride tablets to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is added to toothpaste and mouthwashes so it can be applied directly to the teeth to reduce the formation of a sticky plaque on the teeth, preventing the swelling of gums and tooth decay.

Fluoride is also taken by mouth for treating weakened bones (osteoporosis) and for preventing bone loss in people with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Chemical Element Fluorine

Primary Functions:

Weakened Bones

Also Known As:

Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride, Amine Fluoride, Ammonium Fluoride, Atomic number 9

How Does It Work?

Fluoride protects teeth from the bacteria in plaque. It also promotes new bone formation. This is different than most medicines used for weak bones (osteoporosis), which fight osteoporosis by keeping bone from being broken down.

Uses

Tooth decay (dental caries).Fluoride, in toothpaste, mouthwash, and other dental products, reduces the formation of cavities in both baby teeth and permanent teeth.

Dental plaque. Research shows that using a toothpaste containing fluoride in the form of stannous fluoride can reduce the amount of plaque build-up on teeth.
Swelling of gums (gingivitis). Research shows that using a toothpaste containing fluoride in the form of stannous fluoride can reduce bleeding and swelling of the gums.
Osteoporosis (bone loss). Fluoride taken by mouth, either every day or cyclically (some months on and then some months off) might increase bone mineral density, which is an indicator of bone strength. Fluoride seems to work better for improving bone density in older women when combined with hormone replacement therapy. However, it's not clear whether taking fluoride actually reduces the chance of weak bones breaking. There are better medications to use for bone loss for most people.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

For tooth decay (dental caries): In the US, fluoride is added to most city water sources to a concentration of 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million (ppm).
For weak bones (osteoporosis): 11.3 to 20 mg per day of elemental fluoride.

ON THE TEETH:

For dental plaque: Brushing the teeth 1-2 minutes two times a day with a toothpaste containing stannous fluoride has been used.
For swelling of the gums: Brushing the teeth 1-2 minutes two times a day with a toothpaste containing stannous fluoride has been used.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

For tooth decay (dental caries): In the US, fluoride is added to city water sources to a concentration of 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million (ppm). To prevent dental caries in areas where the fluoride level in drinking water is less than 0.3 ppm (such as in well water), some children should take fluoride supplements as follows: 0.25 mg daily in children 6 months to 3 years, 0.5 mg daily in children 3-6 years, and 1 mg daily in children 6-16 years. For children living in areas where the fluoride level in drinking water is 0.3 to 0.6 ppm, some children should take fluoride supplements as follows: 0.25 mg daily for children 3-6 years and 0.5 mg daily for children 6-16 years. No supplement is needed in areas where the fluoride in drinking water exceeds 0.6 ppm.

ON THE TEETH:

For tooth decay (dental caries): Toothpaste, mouthwash, and gels containing fluoride have been used. Gels are usually used once or more per year. Mouthwash and toothpaste are usually used 1-2 times each day.

The daily Adequate Intakes (AI) for fluoride from all sources, including drinking water, are: 0.1 mg daily for infants 0- 6 months of age, 0.5 mg daily for infants 7-12 months of age, 0.7 mg daily for children 1-3 years, 1 mg daily for children 4-8 years of age, 2 mg daily for children 9-13 years of age, 3 mg daily for children 14-18 years of age, 3 mg daily for women 19 years of age and older, and 4 mg daily for men 19 years of age and older.

The daily upper intake levels (UL) for fluoride, which is the highest level that can be taken daily with no harmful effects expected, are: 0.7 mg for infants 0-6 months of age, 0.9 mg for infants 7-12 months of age, 1.3 mg for children 1-3 years of age, 2.2 mg for children 4-8 years of age, and 10 mg for children older than 8 years and all adults.

Fluoride Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What is fluorine used for?

Fluorine is important in creating nuclear material for nuclear power plants and insulating electrical towers. It also is used to etch glass in the form of hydrogen fluoride. Fluorine is used to make plastics, such as Teflon, and is also important in dental health.

How do you get flouride?

Do you have fluoride in your tap water?

Clean teeth and along the gum line at least twice a day.
Drink plenty of water every day.
Make infant formula using fluoridated or non-fluoridated water.
Have regular dental check-ups.
Avoid fluoride drops and tablets.

Is fluorine an F?

Fluorine is a chemical element with the symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists as a highly toxic pale yellow diatomic gas at standard conditions.

What are 3 uses of fluorine?

What foods contain fluorine?

Foods That Naturally Contain Fluoride

Popeye's favorite superfood, spinach is packed with all kinds of great vitamins and minerals, and fluoride is among them.
Grapes, Raisins, and Wine
Black Tea.

Is flouride poison?

introductory comments. Fluoride is a highly toxic substance. It is also why accidents involving over-ingestion of fluoridated dental products–including fluoride gels, fluoride supplements, and fluoridated water–can cause serious poisoning incidents, including death.

Why is fluorine bad?

If fluorine is absorbed too frequently, it can cause teeth decay, osteoporosis and harm to kidneys, bones, nerves and muscles. Fluorine gas is released in the industries. This gas is very dangerous, as it can cause death at very high concentrations. At low concentrations it causes eye and nose irritations.

Is fluorine a toothpaste?

Fluorine is added to city water supplies in the proportion of about one part per million to help prevent tooth decay. Sodium fluoride (NaF), stannous(II) fluoride (SnF₂) and sodium monofluorophosphate (Na₂PO₃F) are all fluorine compounds added to toothpaste, also to help prevent tooth decay.

Is fluorine found in the human body?

Fluorine attracts electrons more readily than any other element. On average, the amount of fluorine in the human body is three milligrams. Fluorine is primarily mined in China, Mongolia, Russia, Mexico and South Africa, according to Minerals Education Coalition.

Is fluorine essential for life?

Fluoride is considered a semi-essential element for humans: not necessary to sustain life, but contributing (within narrow limits of daily intake) to dental health and bone strength.

Why is fluorine so important?

Fluorine is essential for the maintenance of solidity of our bones. Fluorine can also protect us from dental decay, if it is applied through toothpaste twice a day. If fluorine is absorbed too frequently, it can cause teeth decay, osteoporosis and harm to kidneys, bones, nerves and muscles.

How is fluorine used in society?

Fluorine is a vital element in the nuclear energy industry, according to the Royal Society. It is used to make uranium hexafluoride, which is needed to separate uranium isotopes. Fluorine is used in many fluorochemicals, including solvents and high-temperature plastics, such as Teflon (poly(tetrafluoroethene), PTFE).

What happens if you have too much fluorine?

Excess exposure to fluoride can lead to a bone disease known as skeletal fluorosis. Over many years, this can result in pain and damage to bones and joints. The bones may become hardened and less elastic, increasing the risk of fractures.

What is the deficiency of fluorine?

Fluoride or fluorine deficiency is a disorder which may cause increased dental caries (or tooth decay, is the breakdown of dental tissues by the acidic products released by the "bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates.")

Is fluorine harmful to humans?

Health effects of fluorine

As a result humans are exposed to fluorine through food and drinking water and by breathing air. Fluorine gas is released in the industries. This gas is very dangerous, as it can cause death at very high concentrations. At low concentrations it causes eye and nose irritations.

What countries do not fluoridate water?

Many European countries have rejected water fluoridation, including: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, Iceland, and Italy.

How does fluorine gas kill?

Fluorine gas is extremely poisonous. It can cause chemical burns on the skin. It causes burns to the skin like sulfuric acid and other acids do, and is also easily absorbed into the skin. Once inside the body it causes damage to tissues and organs.

Does fluorine explode?

Because fluorine is the most chemically reactive element, it must be handled with extreme care as it can sometimes explode on contact with all other elements excluding oxygen, helium, neon and krypton, according to Chemicool.

What makes fluorine unique?

Fluorine is an univalent poisonous gaseous halogen, it is pale yellow-green and it is the most chemically reactive and electronegative of all the elements. Fluorine readily forms compounds with most other elements, even with the noble gases krypton, xenon and radon.

How much fluorine is in the human body?

Fluorine attracts electrons more readily than any other element. On average, the amount of fluorine in the human body is three milligrams.

How is fluorine used in medicine?

Fluoride is a form of the chemical element fluorine. It is used as medicine. Fluoride is added to public drinking water to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is also taken by mouth for treating weakened bones (osteoporosis) and for preventing bone loss in people with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

Is fluorine a vitamin or mineral?

Fluoride Is Not an Essential Nutrient. In the 1950s, dentists believed that fluoride was a “nutrient.” A nutrient is a vitamin or mineral that is necessary for good health. Dentists believed that fluoride ingestion during childhood was necessary for strong, healthy teeth.