Do you ever wonder, the one ingredient in your toothpaste
that prevent tooth cavity and gives it that shine, well fluorine is that one
ingredient and it can be found on water, soil and in our food 7, 8.
Fluorine in ionic state, fluoride, in water is called fluoridation and it is a
major controversies in Calgary 1. The reasons for that is because,
fluoride is very toxic to human health and it has it benefits as well. The toxic
health risk are dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, deformation of red blood
cell, effect of the reproductive system, effect of immune system and
carcinogenic 4,5. Debate concerning fluoridation took place in the
year 2013; Dr. Dickson is against fluoridation and he mentioned that fluoride
is a toxic chemical which should not be put in water 1. On the other
hand, Dr. Tomkins is for fluoridation and she mentioned that it is safe and
prevent tooth decay 1. Dr. Tomkins is also concern about dental
expenses for the poor, children and elderly if there be a removal of fluoride
in water 1. With the daily intake of fluorine in our food, water,
tooth paste, mouth wash and rinse, the body is susceptible to toxic effect
because fluorine has 70- 90% absorption in gastrointestinal tracts in the form
of an ion 4. Fluoride absorption concentration can be reduced by the
increase stomach PH and the increase concentration of calcium, magnesium and
aluminum; this is because it forms an insoluble complex of fluoride 4.
There are alternative for fluoridated toothpaste such as hydrogen peroxide,
herbal tooth power, baking soda, sea salt, tooth soap and even dry brushing 9.
Alternatives for fluoridated drinking water is to just remove the fluoride from
the water 3.
So now you know the toxic health effect and benefit of fluorine
in our tooth paste and water, what is your opinion and would you still use the
fluoridated toothpaste?
Reference
1). CBCnews.(2011 January). The fluoride debate – The pros
and cons of putting it in community drinking water. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/the-fluoride-debate-1.1036878
2). Lenntech. Water Treatment Solution. Retrieved April 4,
2015, from
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/f.htm#Health%20effects%20of%20fluorine
3) Meenakshi, Maheshwari.(2006).Fluoride in Drinking Water
and its removal: Journal of Hazardous Materials,137(1), 456-463,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.02.024.
4). National Research Council Staff. (1993). Health Effects
of Ingested Fluoride. National Academics Press. Retrieved from http://library.mtroyal.ca:2052/lib/mtroyal/reader.action?docID=10057060
5). Tylenda Carolyn A.(2011).Toxicolofical Profile for
Fluorides, Hydrogen Fluoride, and
Fluorine (update).
DIANA Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books? id=geXFDm1yZ8QC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=ld50+of+fluoride&source=bl&ots=HN-te8uBCB&sig=yiXqxfr-uVSd7EF9wDeO6EvdLB4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3CwgVeLJJ4uuogSt9oLgAw&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=ld50%20of%20fluoride&f=false
6). Wikipedia. (March 2015).Fluoride. Retrieved April 4,
2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoride#Structure.
7). Wikipedia. (March 2015). Fluorine. Retrieved April 8,
2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorine
8). Wikipedia. (March 2015). Water Fluoridation. Retrieved
April 8, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation
9). Willing E. 12 Natural Toothpaste Alternatives. The
Nourished Life. Retrieved April 4, 2015, from
http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2011/05/12-natural-toothpaste-alternatives.
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