The information resource about Nutrients, Probiotics and Food Supplements
Nutrient Details For : Fluoride

A nutrient is any element or compound necessary for or contributing to an organism's metabolism, growth, or other functioning. Click name for details Arsenic Biotin Boron Calcium Carbohydrates Carnitine Carotenoids Chloride Choline Chromium Copper Energy Fiber Fluoride Folate Iodine Iron Lipids Magnesium Manganese Molybdenum Niacin Nickel Pantothenic acid Phosphorus Phyto-chemicals Potassium Protein Riboflavin Selenium Silicon Sodium Thiamin Vanadium Vitamin A Vitamin B 12 Vitamin B 6 Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Zinc Further Trace Elements

The trace element fluorine is present in the body almost entirely in bone and teeth.

Fluoride's best known effect is to serve as a catalyst for both the mineralization of developing tooth and for remineralization of surface enamel. The combination of these fluoride effects greatly reduces occurrence of dental decay (caries). Denotal caries is an infectious disease caused by bacteria.

When food is taken, oral bacteria multiply within their home (plaque) and produce organic acids. Loss of tooth enamel accelerates as long as plaque pH is less than 5.5.

The presence of fluoride changes some of the tooth crystal into a less acid-soluble crystal known as fluoropatite.

Diet recommendations:

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences (US) has concluded that a fluoride intake of 0.05 mg/kg body weight, after the age of 6 months, provides an adequate fluoride intake to reduce risk of dental decay.

It is assumed that this fluoride will come from a combination of food and water sources.

Food sources:

The major source of fluoride is drinking water. Seafood, some teas, and foods made with mechanically separated chicken (baby food, canned meats, luncheon meats, and frankfurters) contribute to total fluoride intake.

Most foods are very low in fluoride.

Toxicity:

Children less than 8 years of age can develop mottled tooth enamel (white horizontal lines if they ingest several times more fluoride than recommended during tooth enamel formation. Swallowing of fluoridated toothpaste by young children has been shown to be the most prevalent cause of this problem.

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