Fluoride Research Paper

Words: 435
Pages: 2

Fluoride is an inorganic, monatomic anion of fluorine. Fluorine is the lightest element in the halogen family and is a highly toxic gas at standard conditions. Fluorine’s atomic number is nine, and has a electron configuration of [He] 2s22p5. Fluoride is the 13th most abundant element on the earth’s crust. Fluoride is an acid as well as it has a negative charge due to the fact that it has one extra electron. It can be naturally found in water, soil, minerals, and even food. Fruits, vegetables, meat, grains, eggs, and milk can contain fluoride. Fluoride is added to toothpastes for people who need extra tooth enamel protection as well. Fluoride works by preventing the loss of important minerals on tooth enamel which helps to keep a person’s tooth …show more content…
Unfortunately due to the fluoridation of the public water supply 40% of teens have enamel fluorosis. Enamel fluorosis which is a condition that changes the appearance of tooth enamel due to the long-term ingestion of fluoride when the teeth are forming. Enamel fluorosis is a chalk-like discoloration (white spots) of tooth enamel. The enamel fluorosis found in children under age six years is commonly caused by unsupervised use of toothpaste. The fluoridation of water began in the United States just after World War II ended, and according to the ADHA, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the amount of tooth decay seen in the United States has decreased 50-60% since the introduction of the chemical into the water supply. The average cost of water fluoridation is an estimate of 72 cents per person a year in the United States. The fluoridation of water became widely popular in the 1950s, which was also the height of the cold war. The cold war led to many Americans to fear the growth of communism, which caused people to question new governmental