What Is Fluoride?
Release time:
2024/01/09
Yichang fluoride material co., ltd, is the leading chinese sodium fluoride manufacturer, sodium fluoride factory
as to fluoride, It is a highly reactive element and is commonly found in nature in the form of fluoride ions, which are negatively charged atoms.
Fluoride is known for its beneficial effects on dental health. It is often added to toothpaste, mouthwash, and public water supplies to help prevent tooth decay. When fluoride is applied to the teeth, it helps to remineralize and strengthen tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria and sugary foods. This can significantly reduce the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
In addition to its dental benefits, fluoride also has industrial uses. It is used in the production of aluminum, ceramics, and various chemicals. It can also be found in certain medications, such as some antidepressants and antiviral drugs.
However, excessive fluoride consumption can be harmful. Ingesting high levels of fluoride over a long period can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which causes discoloration and pitting of the tooth enamel. Severe cases of fluorosis can result in weakened teeth and increased susceptibility to dental decay.
Fluoride can also be toxic in high concentrations. Ingesting extremely high levels of fluoride can lead to acute poisoning, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and even death in severe cases. However, it is important to note that acute fluoride poisoning is extremely rare and usually only occurs in cases of accidental ingestion of fluoride-containing products.
The use of fluoride in public water supplies has been a topic of debate. Proponents argue that it is a cost-effective and efficient way to improve dental health, especially in areas with limited access to dental care. Opponents, on the other hand, express concerns about the potential health risks associated with fluoride consumption and advocate for alternative methods of dental care.
Overall, fluoride is a naturally occurring compound that plays a crucial role in maintaining dental health. When used in appropriate amounts, it can help prevent tooth decay and strengthen tooth enamel. However, it is important to use fluoride products responsibly and consult with dental professionals for guidance on proper usage.
“Fluoride” refers to any compound containing a fluorine ion. Sporting a chemical symbol of “F” and an atomic number of 9, fluorine is one of the well-recognized elements on the periodic table. As a pure gas, fluorine is “the most reactive and electronegative of all the elements.” It has extremely damaging effects to any living organism with which it comes into contact. (7)
In nature, calcium fluoride (CaF2) is found in soil and water. Spring water in areas without industries that regularly use fluoride generally contains about .01-.03 ppm (parts per million, also known as milligrams per liter or mg/L) of calcium fluoride naturally, while seawater is closer to 1.3 ppm. (8) These amounts vary greatly depending on location — in some parts of the world, calcium fluoride is found up to 10–20 ppm in water supplies, which is universally recognized as an unsafe ingestible amount of the compound.
Despite the insistence of various organizations to tell the public that this same compound is what’s added to their drinking water, this isn’t actually true. Calcium fluoride is not well-absorbed into the body, whereas sodium fluoride (NaF) is. This chemical compound does not occur in nature and was generally considered industrial toxic waste until 1950, when it was announced as a new dental health initiative.
1945 marked the start of studies in several cities across the U.S. to compare the prevalence of cavities (dental caries) between children and adults drinking fluoridated or unfluoridated water. According to the CDC, dental caries were reduced 50–70 percent in fluoridated communities during the 13–15 years of these “studies.” (9)
However, no data is available for the amount of cavity reduction experienced by the “control” communities in these experiments. As dental health has improved steadily in both fluoridated and unfluoridated communities of the U.S., this data would be very worthwhile but, unfortunately, does not exist or is not readily available to the public. (10)
As of 2014, about 74.4 percent of people in the U.S. with community water systems were provided with fluoridated water. (11) This is a 0.2 drop in the previous 2012 statistic, resulting partly from community efforts of citizens urging their leaders to remove fluoride from public drinking water.
Unlike you may expect, though, the fluoride used in your drinking water is not calcium fluoride nor sodium fluoride. Now, in 90 percent of our fluoridated water, it’s a compound known as hydrofluorosilicic acid (HFS or FSA). HFS is a by-product of the process used to create phosphate fertilizers that used to be considered toxic waste and is now (more than likely) an additive in your family’s water. (12)
In a petition submitted in 2013 by a former EPA scientist, J. William Hirzy, Ph.D., and colleagues requested the EPA to discontinue the use of HFS in public water due to the proven adverse effects it may have on human health, including issues via the presence of arsenic. (13)
That’s correct: The additive used to improve your dental health also contains arsenic, which, incidentally, is allowed in measures of .010 ppm in water by EPA standards, although the MCLG (maximum contaminant level goal) is zero, due to arsenic’s cancer-causing impact. (14, 15)
Not only does hydrofluorosilicic acid contain arsenic, it also leaches lead from piping at much greater rates than sodium fluoride, although both compounds have this effect. (16) Lead crosses the blood-brain barrier — as well as to unborn children in pregnant mothers — and has no known safe level of contamination that won’t cause harmful effects, such as cancer.
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