The Dark Side of Fluoride



Mahvi AH¹ ; Spittle B² Show Affiliations
Source: Fluoride Published:2022

Abstract

Although the topical use of fluoride, including the use of silver diamine fluoride, is beneficial in altering the mineralization-demineralization balance in the dental enamel and arresting dental caries, the use of fluoride has a dark side, particularly when it is taken systemically to prevent dental caries as in water fluoridation when the fluoride level in the drinking water is adjusted to a level of about 0.7 mg/L. The dark side of fluoride is that fluoride can produce neurotoxicity in the developing brain at levels below those used in water fluoridation. Using the data from high quality studies, in which the maternal urine levels during pregnancy and the IQ of the children have been studied on an individual basis, it has been found that the safe exposure level to fluoride in pregnancy for the prevention of developmental neurotoxicity is considered to be one that results in a maternal urinary fluoride level of less than approximately 0.2 mg/L, which corresponds to a drinking water fluoride level of less than 0.4 mg/L. © 2022, ISFR, www.fluorideresearch.online, Dunedin, New Zealand.