What is fluoride?
Fluorides are organic and inorganic combinations that involve fluorine. Fluorides can be found in the environment naturally, but humans have also made some additions. They can be in the form of a liquid, solid, or a gas.
Where is fluoride found?
It is found in every food, but higher levels are present in certain foods. It is mainly known for being a large part in dental products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash.
How much fluoride is too much?
Although fluoride can be beneficial, high amounts of it can be harmful to the bones and tooth development. The two most common exposures to high levels of fluoride are in water and foods. This is mainly present in countries such as China, Africa, and India.
What studies have been done on fluoride?
In China 524 young children were tested after drinking water that contained high levels of fluoride and then compared to children who did not drink water that was highly contaminated. The results showed that children who drank the unhealthy water scored lower on IQ tests than the other children. This leads to the question of can too much fluoride affect a child's brain development?
Another study done in India using 342 adults and 258 children, showed smiliar results. The children and adults also drank water with high levels of fluoride and then were studied. The children were found with high levels of tooth decay and the adults developed joint pain.
Effects of fluoride