Fluoride is the form of fluorine (an element) in drinking water. Your body stores fluorides in bones and teeth.
Although researchers still have some questions about whether fluoride is an essential nutrient, it’s clear that it hardens dental enamel, reducing the risk of getting cavities.
In addition, some nutrition researchers suspect (but cannot prove) that some forms of fluoride strengthen bones.
Small amount of fluoride are in all soil, water, plants, and animal tissues. We also can get steady supply of fluoride from fluorinated drinking water.
Artificially fluoridated water contains 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. Fluoride present in drinking water may vary from less than 0.1 milligram to more than 10 milligram per liter.
Fluoride excessive exposure in drinking water or in combination with exposure to fluoride from other sources, can give rise to a number of adverse effects. These range from mild dental fluorosis to crippling skeletal fluorosis as the level and period of exposure increases.
Crippling skeletal fluorosis, which is associated with the higher levels of exposure, can result from osteosclerosis, ligamentous and tendinous calcification and extreme bone deformity.
The body absorbs most all fluoride in water and other liquid beverages. The bioavailability of fluoride in food ranges between 50 and 80 percent.
After absorption, the body distributes fluoride in “hard” tissues, mainly the bones and teeth. Excess fluoride is excreted mainly in the urine.
Fluoride
