Yemen - Fluoridation and its relevance
Fluoridation and its relevance
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Dr. Ali M. Al-Mashhadani ali-almashhadani@yahoo.com
Fluoridation is a safe, simple procedure, which prevents tooth decay. It adds nothing new to water, but simply adjusts the natural level of fluoride to an amount which has been proven to reduce dental decay.
Fluoride is found in varying mineral combinations in rocks and soil. Small amounts occur in most natural waters in the form of soluble fluoride ions. Small quantities of fluoride are also present in nearly all foods, and in the human body, where fluoride is concentrated in bones and teeth. However, there is not enough fluoride present in our daily diet or in most water supplies to maintain our teeth in a normal, healthy state.
Wherever fluoridation is practiced, the amount used varies according to climate conditions. The usual recommended dose is microscopic – not more than one part of fluoride for every million parts of water (1 ppm), roughly enough to cover a pin-head in a four-gallon tank of water.
The nature of water is completely unaltered by the addition of fluoride. Taste, odour and color remain the same. In fact, only two tests can ever demonstrate fluoride in the water, the decrease in dental decay, and delicate chemical analysis.
Water containing fluoride from rocks and soil is indistinguishable from water to which the appropriate amount of fluoride has been added and both have exactly the same effects on the enamel of teeth. The fluorine enters into the enamel structure of the tooth and makes the enamel more resistant to the acids that cause decay.
The role of fluoridation
Fluoridation prevents up to 60 percent or more of all tooth decay.
If a baby drinks fluoridated water, it can start its protective strengthening process in the teeth when they are forming in the jaws. In addition, it will continue to strengthen the material of the second teeth before they break through.
The stronger the enamel the better it will resist acid attacks and the less will be the dental decay.
The younger the child, the more benefit she will gain from fluoridation, because a child has two sets of teeth. If the milk teeth are lost too early, the permanent teeth tend to erupt in a jaw which is too small. The teeth are crowded and the child may need expensive corrective treatment. But the benefits of fluoridation are not confined solely to childhood. Radioisotope studies have shown that the fluoride content of adult teeth also can be enriched. A person who starts drinking fluoridated water as a baby, and continues to drink it as he gets older, will carry his resistance to dental decay into adult life.
Some myths about fluoridation
Fluoridated water does not cause cancer, goiter, kidney disease, falling hair, brittle fingernails, or any other symptom of ill health. It doses not cause corrosion in water pipe or harm to plant life, as has sometimes been suggested.
In fact water fluoridated at the recommended level of 1 ppm is perfectly safe, and is not dangerous to life or property in any way. To consume a lethal amount of fluoridated water a man would have to drink about 500 gallons of fluoridated water at one sitting.
Where the fluoride concentration is in excess of 1.9 ppm mottled or white flecked enamel may develop during the formative years. This may be regarded as unsightly but is not harmful in any way. 0.5 – 1 ppm has been chosen as the recommended level – a level where no distinguishable mottling occurs, but dental benefits do.
Implications for students of dentistry
Dental students must have full knowledge about the role played by fluoride in the control of dental caries by acting in the following ways.
1. By producing a tooth mineral more resistant to attack by bacteria
2. By inhibiting the production of acid by bacteria
3. To induce remineralisation of the tooth, if caries starts.
4. Fluoride is thought to concentrate in the mucoid plaque which cover each tooth and so exert its action.
5. fluoride lowers free surface energy. This will decrease the plaque accumulation on the treated enamel surface.
6. In communities with fluoridated water supply, there is a trend to shallower fissures and lower cusp height and smaller tooth size. This will decrease caries susceptibility.
Administration of fluoride
1. Systemic route i.e. by ingestion fluoride for example
a. Water fluoridation
b. Fluoridation of school water supply
c. Fluoride supplements. This can be in the form of fluoride tablets, drops or syrups.
d. Fluoride incorporation in various foods such as salt, milk, bread, rice, etc.
2. Topical application
The topical application of fluoride can be carried out either by the patient himself or by members of the dental profession such as
a. Fluoride tooth pastes
b. Brushing or rinsing with fluoride solution
c. Fluoride gel
d. Fluoride dental floss
There are different forms of fluorides which have been utilized for the topical use by dental personnel. These are
a. Sodium fluoride
b. Stannous fluoride
c. Acidulated phosphate fluoride
d. Prophylactic paste
Dr. Al-Mashhadani is an Associate Professor at University of Science and Technology, Sana’a.
There you are it is a wonderful thing to take fluoride - you can't have too much and it reduces dental decay by 60% with absolutely no reported side affects
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Ali M. Al-Mashhadani ali-almashhadani@yahoo.com
Fluoridation is a safe, simple procedure, which prevents tooth decay. It adds nothing new to water, but simply adjusts the natural level of fluoride to an amount which has been proven to reduce dental decay.
Fluoride is found in varying mineral combinations in rocks and soil. Small amounts occur in most natural waters in the form of soluble fluoride ions. Small quantities of fluoride are also present in nearly all foods, and in the human body, where fluoride is concentrated in bones and teeth. However, there is not enough fluoride present in our daily diet or in most water supplies to maintain our teeth in a normal, healthy state.
Wherever fluoridation is practiced, the amount used varies according to climate conditions. The usual recommended dose is microscopic – not more than one part of fluoride for every million parts of water (1 ppm), roughly enough to cover a pin-head in a four-gallon tank of water.
The nature of water is completely unaltered by the addition of fluoride. Taste, odour and color remain the same. In fact, only two tests can ever demonstrate fluoride in the water, the decrease in dental decay, and delicate chemical analysis.
Water containing fluoride from rocks and soil is indistinguishable from water to which the appropriate amount of fluoride has been added and both have exactly the same effects on the enamel of teeth. The fluorine enters into the enamel structure of the tooth and makes the enamel more resistant to the acids that cause decay.
The role of fluoridation
Fluoridation prevents up to 60 percent or more of all tooth decay.
If a baby drinks fluoridated water, it can start its protective strengthening process in the teeth when they are forming in the jaws. In addition, it will continue to strengthen the material of the second teeth before they break through.
The stronger the enamel the better it will resist acid attacks and the less will be the dental decay.
The younger the child, the more benefit she will gain from fluoridation, because a child has two sets of teeth. If the milk teeth are lost too early, the permanent teeth tend to erupt in a jaw which is too small. The teeth are crowded and the child may need expensive corrective treatment. But the benefits of fluoridation are not confined solely to childhood. Radioisotope studies have shown that the fluoride content of adult teeth also can be enriched. A person who starts drinking fluoridated water as a baby, and continues to drink it as he gets older, will carry his resistance to dental decay into adult life.
Some myths about fluoridation
Fluoridated water does not cause cancer, goiter, kidney disease, falling hair, brittle fingernails, or any other symptom of ill health. It doses not cause corrosion in water pipe or harm to plant life, as has sometimes been suggested.
In fact water fluoridated at the recommended level of 1 ppm is perfectly safe, and is not dangerous to life or property in any way. To consume a lethal amount of fluoridated water a man would have to drink about 500 gallons of fluoridated water at one sitting.
Where the fluoride concentration is in excess of 1.9 ppm mottled or white flecked enamel may develop during the formative years. This may be regarded as unsightly but is not harmful in any way. 0.5 – 1 ppm has been chosen as the recommended level – a level where no distinguishable mottling occurs, but dental benefits do.
Implications for students of dentistry
Dental students must have full knowledge about the role played by fluoride in the control of dental caries by acting in the following ways.
1. By producing a tooth mineral more resistant to attack by bacteria
2. By inhibiting the production of acid by bacteria
3. To induce remineralisation of the tooth, if caries starts.
4. Fluoride is thought to concentrate in the mucoid plaque which cover each tooth and so exert its action.
5. fluoride lowers free surface energy. This will decrease the plaque accumulation on the treated enamel surface.
6. In communities with fluoridated water supply, there is a trend to shallower fissures and lower cusp height and smaller tooth size. This will decrease caries susceptibility.
Administration of fluoride
1. Systemic route i.e. by ingestion fluoride for example
a. Water fluoridation
b. Fluoridation of school water supply
c. Fluoride supplements. This can be in the form of fluoride tablets, drops or syrups.
d. Fluoride incorporation in various foods such as salt, milk, bread, rice, etc.
2. Topical application
The topical application of fluoride can be carried out either by the patient himself or by members of the dental profession such as
a. Fluoride tooth pastes
b. Brushing or rinsing with fluoride solution
c. Fluoride gel
d. Fluoride dental floss
There are different forms of fluorides which have been utilized for the topical use by dental personnel. These are
a. Sodium fluoride
b. Stannous fluoride
c. Acidulated phosphate fluoride
d. Prophylactic paste
Dr. Al-Mashhadani is an Associate Professor at University of Science and Technology, Sana’a.
There you are it is a wonderful thing to take fluoride - you can't have too much and it reduces dental decay by 60% with absolutely no reported side affects
posted by Bill at
9:59 AM
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