FLUORIDES
FACT SHEET
What are fluorides?
Fluorides occur naturally in the earth’s crust where they are found in rocks, coal, clay and soil. Sodium fluoride is often added to the drinking water supply and to a variety of dental products, including toothpaste and mouth wash to prevent dental cavities.
How you can be exposed to fluoride?
Small amounts of fluorides are present in water, air, plants and animals. Therefore, it is not always known how you may be exposed to fluoride. You can be exposed through the water that you drink or if you use dental products, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and topically applied gels that contain a lot of fluoride that’s not intended to be ingested. If you work in industries where fluoride-containing substances are used, such as the electronics industry where hydrogen fluoride may be used to etch glass in TV pictures tubes or to clean silicon chips and in aluminum and phosphate fertilizer plants.
How does fluoride affect my children or my health?
Small amounts of fluoride help prevent tooth decay, but high levels can harm your health. If you are exposed to a lot of fluoride, it can affect your heart and lead to death. If your child drinks or eats a large amount of fluoride during the time teeth are being formed, it can cause visible changes to the teeth. This condition is called dental fluorisis, which develops only while the teeth are forming in the jaw and before they erupt into the mouth (age < 8years). The appearance of affected teeth is not identical for all children exposed to the same level of fluoride in the drinking water.
What should I do if I think I have been exposed to higher-than-normal levels of fluorides?
If you think that you or your child has been exposed to a higher level of fluoride, contact your doctor for testing and treatment. If you feel extremely ill, call 911 for medical attention. Do not drive yourself to the hospital as you may become very ill on your way.
Where can I get more information on fluoride?
www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/rtkhsfs.htm
Source of Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)