Nutrition 313: Fluoride Presentation

Fluoride in Water Supply Lora Lee Aaron Kimsey Cooper Lindsey French Kayla Kmet Lindsey Smith Jacki Strand

Fluoride Functions • Protects against dental caries • Helps prevent demineralization of bones and teeth • Effects on pre and post eruptive teeth • Adequate Intake • Deficiencies and Toxicities • •

Pro’s: Fluoride in Water Supply • Remineralization of teeth – Saliva – Water – Topical Treatments

• Effects on enamel • Cariostatic effects on plaque  

Fluoride Research Study • “Assessment, management, and prevention of early childhood caries” • Administration of topical treatments to children – 35% reduction in early childhood caries – 9 visits in the first 2 years of life

•

Fluoride Varnish

Fluoride Research Study • “Dental benefits of limited exposure to fluoridated water in childhood” • Administering fluoridated water to children living in non-fluoridated communities – Mineralization effects dentists observed on teeth – Limited exposure beneficial

US States with Fluoridated Water

Fluoride in Knoxville Water Supply • Fluoride was added to Knoxville’s water supply only 6 years ago, and since then dental decay in our area has been reduced by 90%. • 

• • http://www.volunteertv.com/home/he adlines/14119172.html

Con: Fluoride in the Water Supply

Examples of Dental Fluorosis

h ttp :// n e e vio . co m / Flu o rid e / Im a g e s/ flu o rid e _e ffe cts_w e b _3 0 cm . jp g

Example of Child with Skeletal Fluorosis

h ttp :// se lia n lh . h a b a ri. co . tz / o rth o _in stitu te / Flu o ro sis_p re - o p . jp g

Objective • To prove that too much fluoride in the water supply can be harmful. •

Methods • Experiment 1: Dental Fluorosis and Caries Experience in Relation to Three Different Drinking Water Fluoride Levels in South Africa.



 

– Children’s dental health examined in 3 different regions in South Africa 1) Leeu Gamka 3.0 ppm of fluoride 2) Kuboes .48 ppm of fluoride 3) Sanddrif .19 ppm of fluoride

Results • Prevalence of Fluorosis  1) Leeu Gamka 95% (3.0 ppm)  2) Kuboes 50% (.48 ppm)  3) Sanddrif 47% (.19 ppm) • 30% of children in Leeu Gamka had severe fluorosis.  -severe fluorosis was only seen in this region with the exception of one child.

Results 

Area

n

Mean age (years)

% caries-free

%

Fluorosis free



Sanddrif, 0·19 p.p.m. F Kuboes, 0·48 p.p.m. F Leeu Gamka, 3·0 p.p.m. F 

47 115 120

11.77 12.01 11.48

47 50 29

3 4 1

Methods • Experiment 2: Incidence of Skeletal Deformities in Endemic Fluorosis.    



 

-assessed the skeletal deformities as result of fluoride in the water supply. -people aged 20-80 had been exposed to between 2.3 and 22.5 mg/L of fluoride in their drinking water for more than 15 years in one region in India.

Results • More people in 30 to 40 and the 50 to 60 age ranges had skeletal fluorosis compared to the 70 to 80 age range. • Skeletal fluorosis more common in males • Lower socioeconomic group more affected by skeletal fluorosis. 

Summary • Studies show excess Fluoride in the drinking water can be harmful. • Dental Abnormalities and Skeletal Deformities associated with highly fluoridated drinking water. • Excess Fluoride is positively correlated with tooth decay.