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Dental care

Doug Petrovich biblereport PREVENTING DISEASE THROUGH HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTSINADEQUATE OR EXCESS FLUORIDE:A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNFluoride intake has both beneficial effects – in reducing the incidence of dental caries – andnegative effects – in causing tooth enamel and skeletal fluorosis following prolonged exposure to high concentrations. Natural sourcesElemental fluorine almost never occurs in nature, but fluoride is widely distributed in the Earth’s crust, mainly as the minerals fluorspar, cryolite, apatite, mica, hornblende and fluorite. Adverse effects of excess fluoride•High fluoride intake can induce toxic effects by binding with calcium and interfering with the activity of proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes.•Ingested fluoride reacts with gastric acid to produce hydrofluoric acid in the stomach. Thus, acute exposure to high concentrations of the most soluble fluoride compoundsresults in immediate effects, including abdominal pain, excessive saliva, nausea and vomiting. Seizures and muscle spasms may also occur. Death due to respiratoryparalysis is a possibility.•The acute effects of inhalation of hydrogen fluoride are severe irritation of the respiratory tract, with asthma-like reactions and pulmonary oedema. Severe burns ordamage may result from skin or eye contact. Inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure can be fatal.11•Repeated or prolonged exposure via inhalation of aluminium fluoride, primari[...]