Calcium budget
February 19, 2020 at 9:53 am
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In excessive doses, fluoride can disturb the calcium balance and thus trigger dental fluorosis in children, which persists in later life.
New York (U.S.A.). The enamel of humans consists of 95 percent inorganic materials, which form one of the hardest surfaces in nature due to a special layering. Although enamel is the most stable material in the body, it can still be attacked by acids, bacteria, and, according to a study published in the American Journal of Pathology, possibly by environmental chemicals.
To protect tooth enamel from acids, most toothpastes contain fluoride. These chemical compounds reduce tooth sensitivity to acids by promoting mineralization of the enamel. This can help especially children whose teeth are not yet fully developed.
Tooth fluorosis due to wrong toothpaste
The actually positive effect of fluorides can lead to tooth fluorosis in children if they absorb too much of them during tooth growth. These are white discolourations in the tooth enamel, rough surface and, in extreme cases, areas of the teeth that are under-mineralized. This damage remains because, unlike bones, tooth enamel does not repair or grow back later in life, even as adults.
Calcium balance disturbed by toothpaste
Scientists at New York University have now investigated the causes of fluorosis, which affects around a quarter of all children in industrialized countries. Francisco Aulestia, author of the study published in the journal Science Signaling, explains that “Given the frequency of dental fluorosis and the lack of knowledge about the underlying cellular mechanisms, it is important to investigate this problem in more detail.” Cultures of ameloblasts were used for the experiments. These enamel-producing cells were then exposed to increased doses of sodium fluoride in order to observe possible consequences.
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