scholarly journals Fluoride Content in Drinking Water and the Health Implications of Fluoride-Rich Water Consumption: An Overview of the Situation in Canada and Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ochuko Orakpoghenor ◽  
Talatu Patience Markus ◽  
Meshack Inotu Osagie ◽  
Paul Terkende Hambesha

Fluoride is an inorganic monatomic anion of fluorine and forms part of essential reagents used by the chemical industry. It occurs naturally in several minerals and in trace quantities in water. Fluoride has been used to prevent tooth decay and in the treatment of osteoporosis. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of fluorides in the prevention of dental caries following the practice of water fluoridation. Despite these benefits, fluorides pose danger as an endocrine disruptor thus, affecting bones, brain, thyroid gland, pineal gland and blood sugar levels. In Canada, water fluoridation remains a contentious issue although dental decay constitutes the most common chronic disease. However, several Canadians are receiving the benefits of water fluoridation and about 1% have access to naturally fluoridated water. In Nigeria, the prevalence of dental caries has been documented to be greatly reduced following fluoridation of public water supplies in areas where the condition was endemic. Fluoride is therefore the only medicine added to public water, and at the recommended level, fluoride is safe and effective in the reduction of dental decay and poses no risk for health problems. Hence, this article highlighted fluoride content in drinking water and the health implications of consuming fluoride-rich water with a focus on the situation in Canada and Nigeria.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-95
Author(s):  
Bandana Koirala ◽  
Surya Raj Niraula ◽  
Anup Ghimire

Introduction: Fluoride when present in drinking water at optimal level has been shown to promote oral health by preventing tooth decay. Dental caries represents a health problem that impacts on the medical, functional, nutritional and psychological status of patients in all the age groups. Fluoridation of public water supply is a safe, economical and effective measure to prevent dental caries. Objective: To estimate the level of fluoride present in drinking water supplies in all the wards of Dharan and to compare the fluoride concentration of its different water supply sources. Methods: One hundred water samples were collected from the various sources (ground water and surface water) and its different reservoirs along with random samples of 2-7 from all the wards of Dharan. The samples were then taken to the SEAM-N-MMA laboratory, Biratnagar to be tested for fluoride using the photometric method. Microsoft excel for data entry and SPSS 11.5 version for analysis were used. Significance of the variables was examined by Chi-square test. Results: The results of this study showed that in 96% of the samples taken, fluoride level was below the optimal. Only few samples met the lower range guideline value of Nepal (0.5 mg/l). Also, there was significant difference (p< 0.002) between the surface and consumer level fluoride. Conclusion: The fluoride content in drinking water supplies of Dharan was found to be below optimal level as per the national and WHO guideline values.


2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Valéria Pagliari Tiano ◽  
Suzely Adas Saliba Moimaz ◽  
Orlando Saliba ◽  
Nemre Adas Saliba

2013 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 018-021
Author(s):  
Mithra N. Hegde ◽  
Ashwitha Punja ◽  
Ganesh Bhat ◽  
Uday S. Mahale

Abstract Introduction Dental caries is an infectious microbiological disease affecting all age groups. Fluoride slows down the progression of an existing carious lesion thus reducing the incidence of dental caries. World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 0.5 to 1 ppm fluoride content in community water supply and milk fluoridation in case of non-feasibility of community water fluoridation. The aim of present study was to determine fluoride levels in water and milk in Dakshina Kannada District and to co-relate them with the DMFT scores in13-15 year old adolescent population. Methodology Water samples were collected from six different regions and sources from Dakshina Kannada District. Water samples were tested for fluoride content by ion specific electrode. A school dental survey was conducted to determine different brands of milk consumed by the children and their DMFT index. Milk samples were tested for fluoride levels by Ion Specific electrode using TSAB-II solution. DMFT scores were correlated with fluoride level of milk consumed by population. Interobesrver reliability by kappa statistics and association test with one way ANOVA was done. Results The range of fluoride levels in waters samples was 0.01 to 0.17 ppm and that of milk samples was 0.176 to 1.38 ppm. There was no much difference in fluoride levels of different milk sources. Hence association between DMFT and milk fluoride levels was not statistically significant (p=0.2). Conclusion Negligible amounts of Fluoride levels were found in water and milk. There is scope to conduct milk or water fluoridation programme in South Kannada District as a caries prevention method.


1997 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eero Vartiainen ◽  
Terttu Vartiainen

AbstractThe effect of drinking water fluoridation on the prevalence of clinical otoscierosis was investigated in an area where the natural waters have a very low fluoride content. The methods included a retrospective chart review and a residential history questionnaire. Only subjects born between 1948 and 1962 were included. In this age group, the prevalence of clinical otosclerosis was found to be 0.35 per cent of persons exposed to fluoridated tap water and 0.32 per cent of those consuming fluoride-poor water. It seems that a sodium fluoride intake of 1 to 3 mg daily cannot prevent the development of clinical otosclerosis in a lowfluoride area.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (04) ◽  
pp. 259-263
Author(s):  
Iftekhar Ahmed ◽  
◽  
Anwar Ali ◽  
Marium Zaheer ◽  
Ibraj Fatima ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to see the frequency of dental fluorosis in exposed area (Sammo Rind village of Thar District) and in unexposed area of Gadap town of Karachi and to find the association of fluoride level with dental fluorosis in both groups. METHODOLOGY: The water samples were taken from both the sites and fluoride estimation in water and geometrical, was determined using Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode (FISE) method. By random selection 121 subjects from Sammo Rind village and 121 controls from Gadap Town Karachi were included in study after informed consent. The participants were clinically examined by an expert university teacher dentist in proper dental setups in examination lights. RESULTS: A frequency of dental fluorosis of 100% was found among the study subjects with fluoride content as high as 6- 8 mg/dl as compared to prevalence of dental fluorosis 17.4% in unexposed group with water fluoride content as low as 0.30mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: The high level of underground water fluoride level and cent per cent dental fluorosis in Thar area is an alarming situation that should be addressed immediately at national level. KEYWORDS: Exposed area, Dental Flurosis, Fluoride Level, Water Sample HOW TO CITE: Ahmed I, Ali A, Zaheer M, Fatima I, Khan N. Frequency of dental fluorosis in population drinking water with high fluoride level in Thar. J Pak Dent Assoc 2020;29(4):259-263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25301/JPDA.294.259


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 456-460
Author(s):  
L. J. Filer ◽  
Lewis A. Barness ◽  
Richard B. Goldbloom ◽  
Malcolm A. Holliday ◽  
Robert W. Miller ◽  
...  

The association of mottled enamel and dental fluorosis with community drinking water was detected before 1920 and was specifically related to the fluoride content of the water when Churchill, in 1931,1 was able to measure trace amounts of fluoride in drinking water. Also, in areas with communal water supplies naturally contaming increased amounts of fluoride, the occurrence of dental caries was lower than that seen in the general population.2 These observations and subsequent studies3 led to the practice of adding fluoride to communal waters, with a consequent significant reduclion in the incidence of dental caries. Nearly 90 million persons in 7,500 communities4 use water supplies containing an amount of fluoride effective in reducing the dental caries rate. Fluoride is present in the customary diet and in most potable water sources in amounts that vary from 0.1 to 0.5 parts per million (ppm).5 The average dietary intake of fluoride is approximately 0.5 mg daily from these two sources. In the temperate zone, fluoridated community water supplies are increased in fluoride content to a level of 1.0 ppm, thus providing, on the average, a total fluoride ingestion of 1.5 mg per day. A lesser level of fluoridation may be sufficient in warmer climates conducive to a higher water consumption. Fluoride is regarded as an essential nutrient6 and it is now well known to be effective in the maintenance of a tooth enamel that is more resistant to decay. Fluoride is a normal component of tooth enamel and bone. Studies in vivo and in vitro demonstrate that the calcified tissues of both enamel and bone are made up of a combination of hydroxy- and fluor-apatites of varying composition, depending on the abundance of fluoride at the site of formation.


Author(s):  
Julia K. Riddell ◽  
Ashley J. Malin ◽  
Hugh McCague ◽  
David B. Flora ◽  
Christine Till

Drinking water is a major source of dietary fluoride intake in communities with water fluoridation. We examined the association between urinary fluoride adjusted for specific gravity (UFSG) and tap water fluoride levels, by age and sex, among individuals living in Canada. Participants included 1629 individuals aged 3 to 79 years from Cycle 3 (2012–2013) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey. We used multiple linear regression to estimate unique associations of tap water fluoride levels, age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), use of fluoride-containing dental products, smoking in the home, and tea consumption with UFSG. UFSG concentration was significantly higher among participants who received fluoridated drinking water (mean = 1.06 mg/L, standard deviation = 0.83) than among those who did not (M = 0.58 mg/L, SD = 0.47), p < 0.01. UFSG increased over adulthood (ages 19 to 79). Higher UFSG concentration was associated with being female, tea drinking, and smoking in the home. In conclusion, community water fluoridation is a major source of contemporary fluoride exposure for Canadians. Lifestyle factors including tea consumption, as well as demographic variables such as age and sex, also predict urinary fluoride level, and are therefore important factors when interpreting population-based fluoride biomonitoring data.


Author(s):  
Nidhi Sharma ◽  
Vartika Saxena ◽  
Manisha Naithani

Background: Evidence from scientific literature confirms both beneficial and detrimental effects of fluoride on human health with only a narrow range between intakes associated with these effects. The limits of this range have been controversial among researchers since the 1930s. Considering this, the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit of fluoride in India has been reduced from 1.5 to 1.0 mg/l in 1998. This study aimed to evaluate the association between increasing water fluoride levels and dental caries prevention on permanent teeth.Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1400 children (aged 6–19 years). Caries experience and dental fluorosis were recorded using DMFT/deft and Dean's index respectively. Also, fluoride concentration in drinking water was analyzed. Around 14.4% of children had dental caries with maximum frequency among 9-10 years of age. A significant negative correlation between caries experience and water fluoride level was found (p<0.05), with the lowest DMFT scores at the fluoride level of 0.61–2 mg/l and the highest at 0.0–0.3 mg/l. Whereas, high prevalence of dental fluorosis was observed above 0.7 mg/l.Results: The study revealed that the presence of 0.3-0.7 mg/l fluoride in drinking water reduces dental caries, without an objectionable rise in dental fluorosis.Conclusions: It can be suggested that fluoride has anticaries property but due to a ‘narrow therapeutic window’ of 0.3-0.7 mg/l, in a country like India where endemic fluorosis is prevalent, its topical application should be encouraged which is almost equally effective with less systemic adverse effects.


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