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Fluoride is an element that plays a very important role in the human body – thanks to it, the mineralization of teeth and bones is carried out properly. It occurs naturally in food and water, and is one of the basic ingredients of oral care products. Both its deficiency and excess can be dangerous to your health. With your common sense, don’t worry.
Is there anything to be afraid of? Properties and harmfulness of fluoride
Fluoride has anti-carcinogenic and bactericidal properties. It prevents the bacterial enzymes in the mouth from being blocked and the sugars from being converted into acids. It makes the enamel harder and more resistant to damage. It is also one of the building blocks of hair, connective tissue, muscles and skin. Deficiency of this element has a negative impact on the bone tissue – it can contribute to the development of osteoporosis, the symptoms of which are bone fractures, growth reduction, and skeletal deformation.
In addition, insufficient amount of fluoride in the diet leads to the destruction of enamel, which is the popular tooth decay. In the case of a large cavity, consultation with a dentist is necessary, because untreated caries can damage the pulp of the tooth, its roots and the alveolar bone. This, in turn, can even lead to serious inflammation.
An excess of fluoride results in the development of fluorosis, i.e. changes in the enamel. Depending on the degree of development of the disease, these may be white or brown spots. Later cavities appear, and in an advanced stage, even tooth distortions. Fluorosis can also affect the bones – it causes calcification of the ligaments, stiffening of the spine, bone and joint pain and reduced mobility of the joints. Ingestion of more than 4 mg per kilogram body weight may lead to poisoning, manifested by vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, cardiac and respiratory disorders.
You can buy a toothpaste without fluoride, which will thoroughly clean your teeth and oral cavity, at Medonet Market today.
The presence of fluoride in water, food and dentistry
Fluoridation of drinking water has not been used in Poland for many years. The presence of fluoride in water is natural, and in some regions its concentration is even higher than the permissible norm (1,5 ml / l). This element is found in black tea, cheese, grain products, legumes, broccoli, spinach and fish. The daily requirement for fluoride is 3 to 4 milligrams for adults and 1 to 2 milligrams for children.
Contrary to many opinions, brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste is safe for your health because its amount is small and the effect is only local. In the case of children, be careful not to swallow the toothpaste while brushing their teeth. For this reason, fluoridation is a recommended and safe form of anti-caries prophylaxis, as there is no risk of swallowing the preparation. You also do not have to worry about exceeding the legal limit by using fluoride oral care products. It is unlikely to happen when used sparingly and judiciously.