How can fluorides, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorine affect children?
This section discusses potential health effects from exposures during the period from conception to maturity at 18 years of age in humans.When used appropriately, fluoride is effective in preventing and controlling dental caries. Drinking or eating excessive fluoride during the time teeth are being formed can cause visible changes in teeth. The condition is called dental fluorosis. The changes increase in severity with increasing levels of fluoride. Dental fluorosis develops only while the teeth are forming in the jaw and before they erupt into the mouth (age <8 years). After the teeth have developed and erupted, they cannot become fluorosed. Most enamel fluorosis seen today is of the mildest form, in which there are a few almost invisible white spots on the teeth. In moderate cases, there are large white spots on the teeth (mottled teeth), and some brown spots. In severe cases, the teeth are pitted and are fragile, and sometimes the teeth can break. The appearance of affected teeth is
