Re: fluorosis (how much fluoride?)

From: Steven Bornfeld (dentaltwinnospam_at_earthlink.net)
Date: 12/10/04 

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 09:11:15 -0500

Sally wrote:
>> Please read this letter, from the NAS. Please note that the 0.1 mg
>>figure is an ADEQUATE fluoride intake, as defined by the NAS, for
>>infants, not a maximum allowable dose. The level at which SOME
>
> children
>
>>will suffer generally MILD fluorosis has been stated as 0.5 mg/kg of
>>body mass.
>
>
> Actually, the Adequate Intake (AI) of Fluoride is defined by the
> National Academy of Sciences thusly:
>
>
> AI Definition
>
> Because data are not available to determine an Estimated Average
> Requirement (EAR), the reference value that will be used for fluoride
> is the AI. The AI is based on estimated intakes that have been shown to
> reduce the occurrence of dental caries maximally in a population
> without causing unwanted side effects including MODERATE dental
> fluorosis.
>
> ---
> Moderate fluorosis as defined by the American Dental Association
>
> "All tooth surfaces affected; marked wear on biting surfaces; brown
> stain may be present"
>
> http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/facts/tables.asp#table2
>
> ---
>
> In my opinion, a healthy diet is the best defense against cavities and
> fluorosis. Calcium, antioxidants and other nutrients help attach to
> fluoride and carry it out of the body. That's one of the reasons milk
> is an antidote for fluoride poisoning. And the Physician's Desk
> Reference advises people who want to feed their children fluoride to
> not give it with milk or other high calcium food.
>
> My daughter had to be fluoride-overdosed as a child but never developed
> dental fluorosis. Back when I still trusted what medical professionals
> told me, her pediatrician put her on milk at 11 weeks old, never
> recognized her (now) obvious allergy to dairy when she had projectile
> vomiting, rashes and
> constant crying from pain. His prescription was always to put her on
> weak tea.
> I boiled our fluoridated water feverishly which concentrates the
> fluoride and gave her lots and lots of tea which is naturally
> fluoridated during her first year. She never developed dental
> fluorosis.
>
> However, she cracked a collar bone at about three years old from just a
> simple fall. Always wonder if fluoride did some damage to her bones at
> that time. Now she's fine and much older. Anyway she had an excellent
> diet and excellent teeth when I was in control. She had her first
> lollipop at three years old that a bank teller gave her and she spit it
> out.
>
> We just can't trust the professionals to do their homework. Thank
> goodness the internet provides the references to prove our case. I
> suspect a lot of misinformation is shared in private in dental and
> doctor's offices around the country.
>
> Sally
> Suite 101 - Fluoridation
> http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/fluoridation

        I'm not an expert on clavicle growth, but I believe the ends are not
fully calcified. There are conditions that can cause fragile bones, but
as someone who has also broken his collarbone I can assure you it is a
very common fracture and shouldn't be taken as a sign in itself that
there is anything wrong with the bone. Obviously if you have any doubts
about her bone you can and should follow up on this.
        Allergy to (cow)milk in children is very common. If you discussed your
daughter's symptoms with her pediatrician and was unable to pinpoint the
problem I would agree that something was wrong. However, most young
children do get milk, and if your daughter didn't develop fluorosis with
what you maintain was a high fluoride dose, I can't see why your concern
level is so high, nor why you would think there could have been any
damage to her bones from excessive fluoride intake.
        I certainly wouldn't maintain that all information in doctors' offices
is the best. However, how is the average person without a medical
education supposed to distinguish good from bad information on the web?

Steve

>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Depression (NBC)
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  • Re: fluorosis (how much fluoride?)
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  • Re: bruxism, chips, in toddler
    ... Can Fluorosis Develop on Baby Teeth? ... fluoride is also present in foods at concentrations ...
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  • Re: is there a difference between distilled water and a reverse osmosis filtered water?
    ... Fluoride in tap water can cause bone cancer in boys, ... About 170 million Americans live in areas with fluoridated water. ...
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