Fluoride is an essential mineral for oral health. The American Dental Association (ADA) dubbed it as “nature’s cavity fighter.” It helps harden the outer enamel of developing teeth and lessens the risk of dental caries.

1. Fluorosis by the Numbers:
How Much Is Too Much
Fluoride?
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2. Fluoride is an essential mineral for oral health. The American Dental Association (ADA) dubbed it as
“nature’s cavity fighter.” It helps harden the outer enamel of developing teeth and lessens the risk of
dental caries.
But overexposure to fluoride can cause adverse effects on oral health.
Overexposure Causes Dental Fluorosis
One common dental condition related to fluoride exposure is fluorosis. Mild fluorosis comes in the form
of chalk-like, lacy markings on teeth. At moderate levels, more than half of the tooth's surface is opaque
white. The enamel is brown, pitted, and brittle at its worst state.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that fluorosis happens during early
enamel development. Boys are at the highest risk of developing fluorosis at 15 to 24 months old, while
girls are at their greatest risk at 21 to 30 months old.
Levels of Fluoride in Drinking Water
Fluoridated water is one of the primary sources of fluoride in the United States. The United States Public
Health Service (UPHS) made water fluoridation an official policy in 1951. By 1960, the use of water
fluoridation in households became widespread.

3. In a 2012 study by dentistry majors of the University of Colorado, the researchers found that mild
fluorosis occurs in water containing 1.8 ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. Around 40% of the subjects
in the study suffered from mild fluorosis.
Adjusted Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water
This study and other related bodies of research led the UPHS to set the fluoride concentration in
drinking water. In 2015, they updated their 1962 Drinking Water Standards to control fluoride levels.
The controlled levels should still be able to protect teeth from cavities.
Drinking water in the U.S. contained 0.8 to 12 mg/L (milligrams per liter) before the adjustment. After
the implementation of the UPHS recommendations, there was a 25% reduction in fluoride intake from
drinking water. The current fluoride concentration in the U.S. is now at 0.7ppm.
Controlled Use of Toothpaste for Fluorosis Prevention
Drinking water is currently the primary source of fluoride in American households. Because of this, the
CDC recommends the careful and controlled use of fluoride toothpaste in children. According to the
nation’s health protection agency, the use of fluoride toothpaste should only start at two years old.
Infants younger than this age should only use a toothbrush.

4. The facts, figures, and studies mentioned above suggest one thing; cliche as it may be, too much of a
good thing is a bad thing. Similarly, only a tiny amount of fluoride is enough to protect the teeth;
anything beyond that can destroy it.
Sources:
https://www.childrenscrossing.com
http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/fluoride/article/what-is-fluoride
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4547570/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1532338214000475