Symptoms of Dental Fluorosis - Preventations & Causes

What is dental fluorosis?

• Dental fluorosis is a tooth defect that is caused by excessive intake of fluorides in the drinking water. 
• Although the permanent teeth are affected, occasionally even the primary teeth may be involved.

What are the symptoms?

• It is easy to recognize dental fluorosis. 
• Initially there may be a few white flecks or small pits on the enamel of the teeth. 
• Later there may be brown stains. Dental fluorosis and dental caries seem to go hand in hand.

What is the cause?

• Dental fluorosis occurs in children who are exposed to a high intake of fluoride before the teeth fully mineralise, that is before 12-14 years of age.
• In one district of Kerala, nearly 40% of school children were found to have fluorosis. 
• The disease is more prevalent in rural areas where drinking water is derived from shallow wells or hand pumps. 
• The disease is more likely to occur in areas where the drinking water has a fluoride content of more than 1ppm (part per million), and in children who have a poor intake of calcium.

How can it be prevented?

• The only effective public health measure is to limit the fluoride content of drinking water to below 0.5 ppm (parts per million), by using deep bore drinking water supplies. 
• An adequate daily intake of calcium is also protective.