This happens because fluoride binds to calcium in the body changing it from usable calcium into calcium fluoride, which is unusable by children's growing bones and developing teeth. In essence, it robs the body of calcium.
The fluoride is absorbed by the adult teeth before they erupt - before the baby teeth are lost - and the severity of the damage depends on the level of fluoride ingestion, but the damage is permanent and must be fixed as described below.
The following Q & A came from the American Dental Association website...
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Q & A on Dental Fluorosis:
"My child has dental fluorosis. What can we do to fix it?"
The damage that dental fluorosis causes to the internal matrix of the teeth is permanent. There is no way to reverse this damage.
However, there are ways to 'hide the damage' -- to treat the surface of the teeth so as to hide the discoloration.
Treatment options for fluorosis vary and will depend in part on the severity of the fluorosis and what you can afford (some of the treatments are very expensive). Some of the more common treatments include:
- Abrasion: Abrasion involves finely sanding off the outer layer of the enamel. It is a common approach when the fluorosis is mild. However, if the fluorosis is of a more advanced severity, abrasion is probably not a good idea as it can bring to the surface of the teeth a highly-porous enamel that will be prone to attrition.
- Composite bonding: Composite bonding first involves lightly roughening the area of the damaged enamel. After etching the enamel, a composite resin (with a color matching your teeth) is "glued" on to the exterior of the tooth.
- Porcelain veneers/laminates: Made out of porcelain, veneers form a ceramic shell over the surface of the tooth. Veneers may need to be replaced after several years, however, which can become quite expensive.
To determine which method of treating fluorosis will be best for you, contact your local dentist. If your dentist doesn't specialize in cosmetic dentistry, he/she should be able to refer you to a nearby dentist who does.
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SO, COMPARE THE POSSIBLE COST OF SOME OF THESE OUTRAGEOUS DENTAL TREATMENTS AND THE COST OF A SIMPLE FILLING --- NO COMPARISON THERE I'M SURE, THESE TREATMENTS PROBABLY COST IN THE THOUSANDS.
AND, IF YOU READ THE ADA'S WEBSITE AND STATEMENT ON DENTAL FLUOROSIS,IT SAYS: "In contrast, the moderate and severe forms of dental fluorosis are generally characterized by esthetically (cosmetically) objectionable changes in tooth color and surface irregularities."
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Dental fluorosis is extensively described by toxicologists as the first visible sign of chronic fluoride poisoning.
Fluoride can have adverse effects on people of all ages. Reversible adverse effects include eczema, dermatitis, epigastric distress, headache, excessive thirst, chronic fatigue, muscular weakness, mouth ulcers, lower urinary tract infection and the flare-up of old allergies.8,9,10,11 These complaints tend to disappear relatively quickly after patients discontinue using fluoridated water, tablets or toothpaste. The causal link has been established through double-blind tests. Prolonged ingestion of water fluoridated at 1 ppm can lead to skeletal fluorosis,9,13 rheumatic arthritic complaints and impaired renal function,13 to name but a few of the more serious health effects.
These, like fluoride-mottled teeth, are irreversible.According to Professor D.M. O'Mullane of Cork. 50% of children living in fluoridated areas have dental fluorosis.14 Prof. Clarkson, Dublin Dental Hosp., recently admitted that, “fluoride changes the structure of teeth”.15 How can fluoride cause tooth change without bone change? In fact, it also changes the structure of the bone. A recent study on children with dental fluorosis indicated structural bone change.16 In December 1995, the Journal of the American Dental Association stated: “concerns have been raised about the increased prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in the United States due to the widespread ingestion of fluoride from a variety of sources. Local and regional studies . . . have found the prevalence of dental fluorosis to range from about 20 to 80 percent.” The optimal level of fluoride intake has never been determined scientifically.
MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY OF OUR HEALTH COMPLAINTS ARE COMING FROM OUR FAUCETS!
HERE'S WHAT THE ADA HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT...
As with all public health measures, the benefits and risks of community water fluoridation have been examined. The benefits of water fluoridation are discussed extensively in the Benefits section of this document and the safety of water fluoridation is discussed in great detail in the remainder of this Safety section. In assessing the risks in regards to dental fluorosis, scientific evidence shows it is probable that approximately 10% of children consuming optimally fluoridated water, in the absence of fluoride from all other sources, will develop very mild dental fluorosis.133
"IN THE ABSENCE OF FLOURIDE FROM ALL OTHER SOURCES" ---Does that mean toothpaste, mouthwash, supplements, antibiotics, food and bottled water and other beverages? Well, how will your dentist know? FURTHERMORE, WHO WANTS THEIR CHILD TO DEVELOP DENTAL FLUOROSIS, EVEN IF IT IS MILD? NOT ME, BECAUSE TEETH ARE TOO CLOSE TO BONES AND GOD KNOWS WHAT FLUORIDE IS DOING TO OUR DEVELOPING CHILDREN'S BONES AND OTHER ORGANS.
