Position of the American Dietetic Association: The Impact of Fluoride on Health

Abstract

The American Dietetic Association reaffirms that fluoride is an important element for all mineralized tissues in the body. Appropriate fluoride exposure and usage is beneficial to bone and tooth integrity and, as such, has an important, positive impact on oral health as well as general health throughout life. Fluoride is an important element in the mineralization of bone and teeth. The proper use of topical and systemic fluoride has resulted in major reductions in dental caries (tooth decay) and its associated disability. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have named fluoridation of water as one of the 10 most important public health measures of the 20th century. Nearly 100 national and international organizations recognize the public health benefits of community water fluoridation for preventing dental caries. However, by the year 2000, over one third of the US population (over 100 million people) were still without this critical public health measure. Fluoride also plays a role in bone health. However, the use of high doses of fluoride for prevention of osteoporosis is considered experimental at this point. Dietetics professionals should routinely monitor and promote the use of systemic and topical fluorides, especially in children and adolescents. The American Dietetic Association strongly reaffirms its endorsement of the appropriate use of systemic and topical fluorides, including water fluoridation, at appropriate levels as an important public health measure throughout the life span.

Illumina-based sequencing analysis of pathogenic microorganisms in dental caries patients of different Chinese ethnic groups

“…Among these, interactions between microorganisms such as acidic bacteria ( Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus ) adhering to or growing on dental plaque to form biofilm play a dominant role in tooth damage and dental caries. 1 Dental caries can occur at different ages, causing dental calcification damage, oral infections, and toothache, and even systemic infections. 2–4 It affects approximately 80% to 90% of the global population.…”

High fluoride and low calcium levels in drinking water is associated with low bone mass, reduced bone quality and fragility fractures in sheep

“…Fluoride is known to interact with mineralized tissues such as bone and teeth and has the potential to increase bone mass and prevent dental caries. In the latter regard, fluoridation of drinking water to prevent dental caries is considered as one of the ten most important public health achievements of the twentieth century [6]. However, the pharmacological use of fluorides did not translate into fracture reduction in patients with osteoporosis despite increases in bone mineral density, which explains the loss of interest in the pharmacological use of fluorides in bone loss syndromes.…”

Benefits and drawbacks of zinc in glass ionomer bone cements

“…Here we created a series of zinc-containing (aluminiumfree, iron-free) GPCs based on the glass system SiO 2 -CaO-CaF 2 -SrO-SrF 2 -MgO-ZnO; strontium and fluoride compounds were incorporated since both strontium [21][22][23] and fluoride [24,25] are known to have stimulatory effects on bone mineralization. The aim of this study was to study their mechanical properties, and to investigate the influence of zinc in GPCs on their cell compatibility.…”