Fluoride was never intended to be an additive but instead meant to come naturally in our drinking water; therefore, it is important for homeowners to avoid using source waters with high levels of fluorides because excessive exposure could lead to negative side effects on your teeth or bones. How to avoid high levels of fluoride in your drinking water and what are the symptoms that you should look out for? continue reading
Is too much fluoride in the diet harmful?
There is some concern that too much fluoride in the diet can be harmful, but research has shown that this is not usually a problem in areas with fluoridated water. In fact, fluoride supplements are only recommended for children living in areas without fluoridated water.
What happens if you have too much fluoride?
If you have too much fluoride in your system, it can cause a number of health problems. For example, it might lead to cancer or dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is a condition that causes tooth enamel to become discolored and mottled. It’s generally considered to be a cosmetic issue, but it can also lead to tooth decay and other oral health problems.
There is no evidence that fluoride causes cancer in humans, but there is some evidence that it might cause cancer in lab rats. The theory behind the concern about osteosarcoma is that fluoride might somehow make cells grow faster, which might make them more likely to become cancerous. However, there is no concrete proof that this is actually the case.
4 Symptoms of Too Much Fluoride in Your Body
Dental Fluorosis
Dental fluorosis is the earliest indicator of chronic fluoride toxicity. Fluorosis starts with minor mottling and progresses to major damage to teeth as the severity increases, similar to a sunburn.
The association between excessive ingestion of fluoride and dental mottling was discovered over 100 years ago in Colorado Springs, by Frederick Sumner McKay.
Fluorosis is a condition that results when fluoride in your body has too much of an impact on your teeth. It’s not fully understood what causes the excess fluoride to impede enamel and dentin formation, but it does cause dental fluorosis. Fluoride causes overgrowth of the dentine, which can lead to poor distribution and lumina irregularity in dentinal tubules.
Dentinal mottles are present in both permanent and deciduous teeth. Clinically, the appearance is typically white or brown mottling of enamel with pits or fractures on either side of the tooth.
Fluorosis is a disease that varies in severity depending on the timing and duration of excessive fluoride consumption. A low-fluoride dentifrice prevents fluorosis for children living in areas with fluoridated water while a low-fluoride toothpaste is used to prevent fluorosis for adults and kids who drink water with more than 1 ppm fluoride. In cases where supervised brushing is not possible, a salty drink can be used as a substitute for toothpaste and increase the chances of prevention.
Bone Fragility
Osteoporosis is a condition that results in porous and weak bones, making them prone to fractures. This can be caused by various factors such as age, diet, lifestyle choices and genetics. One of the lesser-known causes of osteoporosis is skeletal fluorosis, a condition caused by excessive fluoride ingestion. Skeletal fluorosis can cause osteoporosis and muscle wasting, but it is rare.
Acute Fluoride Toxicity
Acute fluoride toxicity is a result of incorrect consumption of fluoride and is often caused by accidental ingestion. The symptoms of acute fluoride toxicity are dependent on the type and chemical nature of the ingested compound, age, and elapsed time between exposure and management. Fluoride is more toxic than calcium fluorite at a dose range of approximately 5-8mg/kg body weight.
Fluoride poisoning will sometimes mimic diabetes insipidus, with polyuria and decreased blood pressure. A mixed metabolic and respiratory acidosis may develop because of the failure of renal and respiratory systems, coma and convulsions terminating in death.
Ways to Remove Fluorine from your Water
Water Filtration systems
There are a variety of water filtration systems on the market that can be used to remove fluoride from tap water. Each system has its own benefits and drawbacks- for example, reverse osmosis removes more contaminants than activated carbon, but it is also more expensive and requires regular maintenance. It is important to find a water filtration system specifically designed to remove fluoride, as other types may not be as effective.
Cheap Methods
There are a few cheap methods you can use to help reduce your fluoride intake. One is to drink holy basil tea, which has been shown to be effective at removing fluoride from the body. Another is to avoid using activated charcoal for water filtration, as it does not filter out fluoride. Continue Reading to learn about 7 other inexpensive methods to remove fluoride from your tap water at home.
What are the effects of too much fluoride in the diet?
Fluoride is a mineral that is found in water and soil. It is also present in many foods and beverages. Fluoride is important for healthy teeth, and it helps to prevent tooth decay. However, too much fluoride can cause health problems.
The kidney is the most commonly affected organ due to fluoride uptake in the kidney tubules. Structural changes in the kidneys include swelling, degeneration of tubular epithelium, fibrosis, atrophy of glomeruli and necrosis. Chronic exposure to fluoride is more common than acute exposure. Chronic intake of fluoride can cause renal dysfunction and other health effects such as an increase in serum creatinine or urea nitrogen levels
What is the average amount of fluoride in tap water?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the level of fluoride in drinking water should be between 0.7 and 1.2 milligrams per liter to achieve optimal dental health benefits. However, some people may benefit from ingesting more or less than this amount, so it is important to speak with your doctor or dentist about what is right for you.
In general, fluoride levels in tap water hover around 0.7 milligrams per liter; however, this varies based on location. You can check with your public health department or call the CDC to find out how much fluoride is in your area’s tap water. If you are unsure whether your water supply has fluoride, there are several other ways to test its levels–such as through a laboratory or private source
Mike Spencer
Hi Guys, Mike is a Mechanical Engineer who specializes in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning. His love for humanity and his profession propels him to share useful and factual Information on this blog.