What happens if you don't get enough fluoride?

Answer 1

If young children ingest too much fluoride, they might get dark spots on their teeth. This condition is called dental fluorosis. It can happen on baby teeth, or more commonly on adult teeth. This condition does not harm the teeth, it is just not nice aesthetically, especially when it is present on front teeth. Fluorosis is the term for teeth that got too much fluoride. As far as I know, this only happens when too much fluoride is INGESTED (swallowed) during tooth development. It normally presents in adult teeth because the baby teeth are already formed at birth (but not eruped obviously). If a baby/toddler swallows too much fluoride then their adult teeth may come in fluorosed. Fluorosis can range from mild to severe. Mild fluorosis will appear as bright white chalky spots on the teeth.

In the middle ranges of fluorosis the teeth will appear discolored with a mixture of bright white and/or dark spots Severe fluorosis consisits of dark brown spots and mottling, in which the texture of the enamel is not smooth and polished but rough and bumpy with tiny little pits in it. While cosmetically unappealing, teeth with fluorosis are VERY resistant to decay/cavities. If the amount of fluoride ingested is extremely high it can cause fluoride toxicity which can lead to bone and spinal problems and/or death. Like most minerals and compounds swallowing enough of it will kill you or severely harm you. This is very rare in the US but common in some small villages in other countries where their water naturally contains large deposits of fluoride.

Answer 2

i have come to believe that there is no such thing as too little fluoride. fluoride is a toxin found in pesticides. having been used for years on Jewish prisoners by Nazis, it has been found to make people that drink it apathetic. several European countries that have banned the use of fluoride in their water supplies have actually reported an improvement in recent dental records.

http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=kLgKeHOgneQ

*edit*

There are no proven facts that fluoride in drinking water improves dental health whatsoever. In countries like Australia where it is still added to tap water reserves, the government knows full well that fluoride has been proven not to cause any dental benefits, yet they still haven't lifted the ban.

Answer 3

If there's an excessive amount of fluoride (more than what teeth need) it would be stored in the saliva that's in the oral cavity. teeth tends to use and take only the right amount that they need from the fluoride that's present in the saliva.

Answer 4

Nothing

Your teeth just wont be as protected to stay white.

Answer 5

your gums bleed causing infection.