Dental fluorosis

A condition that results from excessive fluoride ingestion during tooth development, resulting in tooth discoloration ranging from white streaks to brown stains and cracks or pits in the tooth ]]enamel]].

Fluorosis

What causes dental fluorosis?

Excess fluoride consumed during tooth development can also result in a range of visible changes to the enamel surface of the tooth. These changes have been broadly termed dental fluorosis.

Changes in enamel

• Dental fluorosis is a condition that causes changes in the appearance of tooth enamel.
• It may result when children regularly consume fluoride during the teeth-forming years, age 8 and younger.
• It appears as white spots on the tooth surface that may be barely noticeable and do not affect dental function.
• Moderate and severe forms of dental fluorosis, which are far less common, cause more extensive enamel changes.
• In the rare, severe form, pits may form in the teeth.

Dental fluorosis

Young children at risk

• Dental fluorosis is caused by taking in too much fluoride over a long period when the teeth are forming under the gums.
• Only children aged 8 years and younger are at risk because this is when permanent teeth are developing; children older than 8 years, adolescents, and adults cannot develop dental fluorosis.
• The severity of the condition depends on the dose (how much), duration (how long), and timing (when consumed) of fluoride intake.

Safe flouride levels

Fluoride tablets or drops should not be used at all if your drinking water has the recommended fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L or higher.

Also see

• Skeletal fluorosis
• Fluorosis

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