What Is That Stuff Called Fluoride?
This post is a response to a case study we are doing in science class. You can find it at this website: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7916sci4.html
People disapprove of fluoridated drinking water because fluoride can stain your teeth if amounts exceed 1 ppm. In low amounts, it coats your teeth, preventing decay. In high amounts , like those in Colorado Springs, CO, it can permanently stain teeth brown, but coating them and preventing tooth decay. Also, when naturally occurring, it can be found in high amounts.
I think it is a good idea a long as the amount of fluoride does not exceed 1ppm. Preventing tooth decay not only keeps you healthy, but it make your smile shine as well. I do have to wonder whether it changes the taste of the water as the article does not state that fact. Fluoride can prevent you from many oral complications and the appearance of your teeth. Always remember, too much of a good thing is bad for you.
Scientists had to determine how much fluoride you can ingest before it is unhealthy for you. Also, the food and drug administration discovered three decay preventing compounds. They are stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, and sodium monofluorophosphate. these three were all made using hydrofluoric acid, which contains sulfuric acid and fluorspar. It doesn’t matter what the equation as long as the fluoride ion is in it somewhere. Scientists had to do a lot of research, expiraments and trials before fluoride was considered safe to use.
I did some research of my own and found this great website listing all the risk of fluoride. http://www.wholywater.com/fluoride.html
There are so any risks of consuming too much fluoride. Some of these risks include greater risk of cancer, premature aging, and death. That would definitely scare me if i ever ingested toothpaste! I think the thing that would scare me most would be the possibility of consuming to much fluoride would be dying from it. There have been recorded deaths. it really scares me to think that you could die from brushing your teeth!
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