Too Much Fluoride Not Good According to Government

Fluorosis caused by too much flouride

While it has long been a practice within the U.S. to add fluoride to the public drinking water supply, the amount added has varied over the years. The range is determined based on the guidelines from the EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services and it typically somewhere between .7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter.

Like most things, too much of a good thing can have adverse consequences. The same is true when it comes to fluoride. Fluoride has been added to the water supply because it is very beneficial in preventing cavities and tooth decay. Too much fluoride, however, can lead to a condition known as florosis. The condition, which causes white spotting or lines on teeth, is especially damaging to developing teeth in young people.

When the government began adding the element, which occurs naturally in water in come areas, decades ago, it was because there was a lack of good dental hygiene in the country, especially in poorer rural areas. Today, fluoride finds it way into our mouths in a variety of ways including dental treatments, toothpaste and mouth wash. Because of the overabundance of exposure, and potential for harm, the government announced yesterday that it would set the standard at the lowest end of the range at .7 milligrams.