Is water fluoridation causing dental fluorosis?
Dental fluorosis is a condition that results from the intake of excessive amounts of fluoride during the period of tooth development, usually from birth to approximately 6-8 years of age. It is linked to the excessive incorporation of fluoride into dental enamel and dentine which prevents the normal maturation of the enamel. The severity of this condition ranges from very mild to severe, depending on the extent of fluoride exposure during the period of tooth development. Mild dental fluorosis is usually characterized by the appearance of small white areas in the enamel; individuals with severe dental fluorosis have teeth that appear stained and pitted (“mottled”). Dental fluorosis occurs during the period of enamel formation. Exposure to excessive levels of fluoride after tooth development appears to have little influence on the extent of fluorosis. Re-evaluation of past fluorosis data demonstrated a dose-response relationship and showed that even at low fluoride intake levels from wat
