How does fluoride, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorine affect children?
When used appropriately, fluoride is both safe and effective in preventing and controlling cavities. Drinking or eating excessive fluoride during the time teeth are being formed (before 8 years of age) can cause visible changes in teeth. This condition is called dental fluorosis. At very high concentrations of fluoride, the teeth can become more fragile and sometimes can break. No studies have addressed whether low levels of fluoride will cause birth defects in humans. Birth defects have not been found in most studies of animals.
