Flouride Smile

Flouride is an inorganic, monatomic anion of flourine whose salts are typically odorless and white. Flouride containing compounds such as sodium flouride or sodium monofluorophosphate are used in topical and systemic flouride therapy for preventing tooth decay, but the exact biochemical reason is unknown. In some countries where large, centralized water systems are uncommon, flouride is delivered to the populace by flouridating table salt. Flouridation in water has its critics (water flouridation controversy). Flouridated toothpaste is in common use. Meta-analysis show the efficacy of 500ppm flouride in toothpastes. However, no beneficial effect can be detected when more than one flouride source is used for daily oral care. The maximum safe daily consumption of flouride is considered to be 10mg/day for an adult (U.S) or 7mg/day (EU). Daily intakes of flouride can vary significantly according to the various sources of exposure. In areas where water is flouridated this can be expected to be a significant source of flouride, however flouride is also naturally present in virtually all foods and beverages at a wide range of concentrations. Soluble flouride salts, of which sodium flouride is the most common, are toxic, and have resulted in both accidental and self-inflicted deaths from acute poisoning. Historically, most cases of acute flouride toxicity have followed accidental ingestion of sodium flouride based insecticides or rodenticides. Currently, in a advanced countries, most cases of flouride exposure are due to the ingestion of dental flouride products.