FLUORIDE IN WATER AND DENTAL CARIES

4.- Fluoridating of public water

• The artificial fluoridating of public water constitutes an efficient and economic measurement for the collective prevention of caries.

• In the nineteen - fifties it was estimated that the right level of fluoride in public water should be 1 mg/l considering an optimum amount varying between 0,8 and 1,2 mg/l depending on the average maximum temperature of the population in question, for the total ingestion of fluoride depends on the level of ingested water.

  • However, recent reports on increase of dental fluorosis ( = mottled enamel) in developed countries have recommended that the quantity below which fluoride should be artificially added must be reconsidered.

• Therefore probably we should begin considering an optimum amount less than previous published mg/l of fluoride for drinking water (Société Française de Pédiatrie - 2002 ) (Nuttrition Committee - Canadian Paediatric Society ) (pdf) in developed countries due to fluoring water ends up being used in the mass preparation of food and drink so that the final quantities for humans are bigger than initially planned.