Question

1 a) What health benefit is derived by adding fluoride to toothpaste or drinking water? What are the possible hazards?

b) What is the present recommended concentration of fluoride in Toronto’s tap water and over the counter toothpaste?

Answer 1

1 a) Adding fluorides in toothpaste and drinking water have following benefits:-

-Adding fluoride to the water supply reduces the incidence of tooth decay.

-Fluoride protects teeth from decay by demineralization and remineralization.

-Fluoride works by making the outer layer of teeth stronger and less likely to get cavities. It can also prevent or even reverse the decay process. When ingested, fluoride not only becomes part of the tooth structures during tooth formation, but it also provides topical protection. Ingested fluoride is retained in saliva and is continually surrounding the tooth. The preventive measure is especially important for our aging baby-boomer population, which will be vulnerable to dental diseases of aging such as root decay.

Possible Hazards are the following:-

-Exposure to high concentrations of fluoride during childhood, when teeth are developing, can result in mild dental fluorosis. There will be tiny white streaks or specks in the enamel of the tooth.

-Excess exposure to fluoride can lead to a bone disease known as skeletal fluorosis. Over many years, this can result in pain and damage to bones and joints.

-In some cases, excess fluoride can damage the parathyroid gland. This can result in hyperparathyroidism, which involves uncontrolled secretion of parathyroid hormones.

1 b) Recommended concentration of fluorides in tap water is 0.7 ppm. In 2007, an expert panel concluded that 0.7 ppm was the optimal level of water fluoridation without causing adverse effects.