There is some controversy about the toxicity of fluoride. It is well established that excess fluoride can cause dental fluorosis. Mild dental fluorosis can result in mottled teeth. With higher levels of fluoride, pitting of the tooth enamel can occur. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 23 percent of people in the United States aged 6 to 39 years of age have some degree of dental fluorosis. This may be due to the combined fluoride intake from fluoridated water, fluoridated toothpaste, and topical dental fluoride treatments.
Summary for Fluoride
Main functions: strengthens tooth enamel.
Adequate Intakes: adult men, 3.8 mg; adult women, 3.1 mg.
Toxicity: very toxic.
Tolerable upper intake level is 10 mg for adults.
Deficiency may increase risk of dental decay.
Sources: fluoridated drinking water.
Forms in the body: fluoroapatite in bones and teeth.
More research needs to be done to determine if normal levels of fluoride added to water cause lower intelligence in children or cause earlier onset of puberty in girls. High levels of fluoride are certainly toxic and can result in skeletal fluorosis, which can cause deformities.
To summarize, current information indicates that growing children can greatly reduce their risk of dental decay by receiving periodic fluoride applications to the surface of their teeth. Fluoride is an interesting trace mineral because of the differing viewpoints on its toxicity.
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