Fluoride: Friend or foe? Published June 2, 2015 By Staff Sgt. John Barnes 27th Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- There are many myths floating around about the mineral fluoride. These myths make it one of the most disliked and underappreciated tools in the fight against cavities. Myths vary from speculation about its origins, to the alleged health effects it has on the human body. To debunk some of these myths it would first be prudent to know just what it is and what it does. Fluoride is a natural mineral found in the earth’s crust and throughout nature. It is the 13th most common element in the earth and a chemical ion of the element fluorine. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a man-made medication. It is found in many common foods and in the majority of modern water supplies in America. Fluoride therapy was found to repair weakened or damaged enamel by incorporating the mineral fluorapatite into tooth structure. It is not a naturally occurring element in human teeth. In fact, the only animal known to produce fluorapatite in its teeth is the shark, likely due to the fact that they have so many. The practice of adding fluoride into the water supply of towns and cities started sometime in the 1940s, after several studies found a decrease in the number of cavities in children who lived where water fluoridation had been implemented. This is the most widespread and cost-effective delivery system that exists today, with about five percent of the world’s population living in areas where this is practiced. Other forms of delivery include toothpaste, mouthwash, gels, varnishes and lozenges. Conclusive evidence has shown no negative effects linked to fluoride use on teeth other than fluorosis, which causes white and brown spots of demineralization on enamel surfaces when exposed to large doses. Only small children are at risk of this with the use of fluoridated water because their teeth are still developing. The use of water fluoridation and dental fluoride therapies are well within the standards of safety according to the parts-per-million conversion chart used to assess quantities of acceptable exposure. Fluoride toxicity can occur if a dosage exceeds 5 to 10 grams, but is highly unlikely with the amount given through traditional treatments. Fluoride toxicity causes gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and in rare cases, death. One recorded death in the 1970s involved a child who had ingested three times the lethal amount. Three other cases of improper fluoride implementation that led to fluoride toxicity were reported in the 1990s, though none have followed since. There have been many studies conducted regarding the effects of fluoride on the human body. Some of these claim that fluoride intake is associated with a lower IQ in children, an increase in bone fractures and kidney injury, and suppressing thyroid function. Such studies have been dismissed by public health organizations due to unreliable sources and information. To put it all into perspective, fluoride can be highly beneficial to oral health when used properly.