Present ini) bonesii) teeth. Daily requirement : less than 2 ppm per day.

Essential for the normal mineralization of bones and the formation of dental enamel.

Prevents development of dental caries.

Forms a protective layers of acid resistant fluorapatite.

fluoride inhibits the bacterial enzymes

Dental fluorosis If fluoride intake > 2 ppm  mottling of tooth enamel a developmental

disturbance of dental enamel

caused by excessive exposure to high concentrations of fluoride

teeth become rough with brown/yellow patches on their surface

Occurs at the age of 0-6 year only.

Intake of fluorine > 20 ppm causes severe skeletal disorders ( skeletal fluorosis).

Classification

1. Very Mild

2. Mild

Small opaque, paper white areas covering less than 25% of the tooth surface.

Opaque white areas covering less than 50% of the tooth surface

3. Moderate

4. Severe

All tooth surfaces affected; marked wear on biting surfaces; brown stain may be present

All tooth surfaces affected; discrete or confluent pitting; brown stain present

Controlled addition of a fluoride compound to a public water supply

Reasons : low fluoride content in water resulting into increased cases of dental caries.

Community water fluoridation is possible only where a central public water supply system is present.

In India Water Fluoridation Is not Practiced.

Fluoridated Toothpastes were first introduced in U.S.

To Fight against increasing cases of dental caries.

Approved by ADA Due to significant decrease in dental caries and

tooth decay after using fluoridated toothpastes.

In a research by Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS)

It was found all fluoridated toothpastes to be high in fluoride content.

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TOOTHPASTE BRANDS

Fluoride content in water in India is already around 1.2 mg/l

More than this much fluorine intake can lead to dental and skeletal fluorosis .

WHY IS DENTAL FLUOROSIS SO COMMON IN INDIA ?

CASE STUDy

SOURCE : INTERNERT/IDA MAGAZINE

A CASE STUDY FROM PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF RURAL AREAS OF TAMIL NADU

Children studying in six primary schools of six villages were surveyed. 

Five hundred and twenty-five 5- to 12-year-old school children were surveyed

 Every child was clinically examined at the school.

Three out of six villages studied were in ‘borderline’ public health significance (CFI score 0.4-0.6).

CFI VALUE RANGE PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE

0.00-0.04 Negative

0.04-0.06 Borderline

0.06-1.00 Slight

1.00-2.00 Medium

2.00-3.00 Marked

3.00-4.00 Very Marked

High conc. Of fluorine Was Responsible For Dental Fluorosis.

Fluoride removal plants Reverse osmosis plants (RO Plants) Household and public system reverse osmosis

plants are common in the market.  Example :In Bhatinda (Punjab) Water is rich in Fluoride.So, Various RO plants are fitted by govt. after

every few Kilometers.

Know the fluoride concentration of drinking water

This information should help with decisions about using other fluoride products

Fluoride tablets or drops should not be used at all

Indian brands of toothpastes like meswak Dabur Babool Dabur red Promise are Non-fluoridated.

Especially, Children below the age of 5-6, should not use fluoridated toothpastes.

Supervision to reduce the swallowing of excess toothpaste by children.

In latest researches Indian researchers has found that the leaves and stem of Tulsi can detoxify water with high-fluoride content.

How does it act? It has natural bio-adsorbent

properties. leaves and stem serve as natural

magnet to adsorb the fluoride molecules in water.

The All one has to do is to take a few leaves or stem pieces of Tulsi and dip them in a glass of water for 20 minutes. Remove the leaves or stem pieces and drink the water.