Home
Blog
Eating Healthy
Eating Guidelines
Healthy Eating Plan
Small Bites
The Basics Nutrition
Protein
Carbohydrates
Fats
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
Fiber
Special Topics Healthy Diet Plan
Tips
Budget Tips
Pregnancy
Healthy Children
Healthy Recipes
Food Supply
Glycemic Index
Food Labels
Phytonutrients
What is Gluten?
Vegetarian
Vege Nutrition
Vege Tales
Weight Loss
Magnesium Foods
Potassium Foods
Names for Sugar
Names for MSG
Recovery Diet
Healthy Eating Quiz
Healthy Foods Beans
Grains
Nuts & Seeds
Spices & Herbs
Superfoods
Chia Seed
Cinnamon
Flax Seed
Garlic
Turmeric
MUFAS
Organic Food
Healthy Food Shop
Specific Vitamins Vitamin A
Thiamin (B1)
Riboflavin (B2)
Niacin (B3)
Pantothenic Acid
Vitamin B6
Biotin
Folic Acid
Vitamin B12
Choline
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Specific Minerals Calcium
Chromium
Chloride
Copper
Fluoride
Iodine
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Molybdenum
Phosphorus
Potassium
Selenium
Sodium
Sulfate
Zinc
Etc. Guest Blogs
Ask Suzy
Blog Archive
My Favorite Sites
Privacy Statement
Glossary
About Me
Contact Us
Terms of  Use
More Topics Healthy Eating Plans
Healthy Eating Guide
Healthy Kids
Budget tips
Healthy Diet Advice
Childhood Obesity
Healthy Habits
Healthy Eating Diet
Protein Requirement
What are Carbs?
Protein Sources
Vitamin B12 Foods
Marasmus
Grilling Safety
Kids Eating Healthy
Metabolic Syndrome
Vegan Protein
Daily Plan
Recipes
Cancer Prevention
Vegetarian Food
Solanine
High Glycemic Foods
Raw Eggs Danger
Diabetes Diet
10 Healthy Tips
Leptin
Nutrition Quiz
Breast Cancer
BMI Calculator
Trans Fats
Fatty Foods
Recipe&Cooking Tips
Chia Seeds
Complete Protein
Carbs Explained
Glycemic Index Diet
Healthy Weight Loss
Lower Cholesterol
Nutrition Tips
MSG
What is Gout?
GMO
Breakfast Food
Green Potatoes
Protein Deficiency
Links to Articles
Weekly Tips
Other Links

Subscribe To This Site
XML RSS
 

Eating Healthy Eating Healthy Eating Healthy

Fluoride Sources and Functions

Fluoride, a trace mineral, works with all of the nutrient minerals to keep you healthy. Here is a summary of its role in keeping you feeling well.

Child brushing teeth

What it does Prevention of dental cavities; Helps maintain teeth and bone health
Daily needs
(AI)#
[Infants: 0.01-0.5 mg][Children: .7-3 mg] [Men: 4 mg] [Women: 3 mg]
Not enough May lead to tooth decay
Too Much Discoloration of teeth SEVERE: Fluorosis
Foods Tea, seafood, fluoridated water, fish

*The lower value is for infants up to 6 mos., higher value is for infants up to a year old.
† The first value is for children 1-3 with the amount increasing until age 18.
# Adequate Intake (AI) is the average amount a healthy person consumes; no RDA established.

Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals

Look Ma, no cavities!

The only well-established function of fluoride in the body is in the prevention of dental cavities. For this reason, many communities add it to their municipal water supply. The mineral forms part of the crystals in the bones and teeth, making them stronger and the teeth more resistant to decay. There is some evidence that where fluoride is lacking in the water supply, dental cavities are more common

Controversy

Fluoride is probably the most controversial of the minerals. Some health experts do not consider it an essential mineral, because it is not required for growth and development. Entire websites have been devoted to the evils of fluoridation of water, and this trace mineral is portrayed as no less than a poison. It is difficult to know how to maintain a balance between getting enough to protect your teeth and bones, but not so much that it will have deleterious effects on your health.


Fun Fact: If you type the word fluoride into a search engine, you will find an equal number of sites that tell you how and why to get enough, as sites which tell you how and why to avoid it. What’s a consumer to do?


Toothpaste

Fluoride is added to many brands of toothpaste, as a way to help prevent cavities. The assumption is that you will spit out the toothpaste and not swallow it. However, children under the age of 6 should be supervised when brushing their teeth, since kids in that age group are more likely to use too much and to swallow the toothpaste.

Too much

Ironically, if you get too much fluoride it will show up in your teeth in the form of discoloration and pitting, a condition called “fluorosis.” The incidence of flourosis has increased, most likely due to its presence in many toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Not much in food

Only a few foods are known to have flouride. These include tea, grape juice, sardines and chicken. Some water supplies have naturally occurring flouride, and it is added to municipal water supplies in many localities. Bottled water is generally not a significant source.

Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals


Interesting Fact: If you filter your water using reverse osmosis or distillation, most of the flouride will be removed from the water. However, charcoal type filters, such as those hooked to the faucet or used in a pitcher, do not remove it.


Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals

Upper Level

The upper intake level for flouride that has been established is 10 mg per day.

Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals



Click here to go from Fluoride Sources and Functions page to Healthy Eating Support home page.

Sign up to receive emails of my blog

Healthy Eating Blog

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner


How to Use This Site

BOOKMARK this site or add it to your Favorites.

Become an informed eater by clicking on the NUTRITION button and reading the general information there.

Check back whenever you have a question about your diet, meal planning, nutrition, specific foods or any healthy eating issues. Use the SITE SEARCH function to track down your particular concern.

Try some of the free recipes available on the site by clicking on the RECIPES button.

E-mail me if you can’t find what you are looking for, if you feel that any of the information on the site is not accurate, or just to say hello!

Click here to e-mail me.

Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals Healthy Eating Minerals