Prevent Fluorosis: Know Your Child's Daily Exposure To Fluoride

One in four Americans has dental fluorosis which is a discoloration of the tooth enamel caused by too much fluoride exposure. Children under the age of 8 are most at risk for developing fluorosis because their primary teeth are still forming. It's very important to know how much total fluoride exposure you or your child is getting in order to avoid fluorosis which can appear as white spots, brown spots or pits in the teeth. Pits are considered the most problematic of the less severe side effects and usually should be filled to prevent further decaying of the tooth from trapping of food etc. In severe cases of dental fluorosis, the enamel can crumble right off as the tooth is erupting leaving the tooth structure weak and vulnerable to decay or loss. How much is too much is a very individual situation because it not only depends on exposure to how much fluoride you have, it also depends on how long you were exposed, and the size, diet, and health of a child or individual. You will be surprised to learn that more than 41% of 12-15 years olds have dental fluorosis. The question is what is the impact on the rest of the body? Our medical system tends to isolate areas of the body so there are few studies in this area and many are conflicting or difficult to gain a conclusion from. Fluoride has a strong affinity for bone and deposits itself in bone tissue. Teeth are one of the strongest bones in our body. It has been shown that some fluoride exposure is beneficial, but that too much can be a real problem and since every person is different in the way they uptake fluoride, it's very hard to say what an appropriate amount would be. There is clear evidence that too much is unhealthy and can in more extreme exposures lead to a condition called skeletal fluorosis, a severe bone deformity, but the problem is that there are degrees of affects, from mottled or stained teeth, to full blown bone deformity, and that's the gray area of diagnosis. I hope you will  WATCH MY VIDEO below to learn more about this very controversial substance, so you can be informed about your intake from consuming fluoride and using fluoride products. The affects of fluoride are cumulative and found in things you wouldn't readily know about. I outline the ways in which you may be exposed in my video to help you make the right decision for you and your family.

xo Linda