Chemistry and Health: Fluoridation of Drinking Water

• Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, which prevents tooth decay.
• Too much fluoride can cause teeth to become brown and spotted, a condition known as dental fluorosis.
• Extremely high levels can lead to skeletal fluorosis.
• The scientific consensus is that, like many minerals, fluoride shows some health benefits at certain levels—about 1–4 mg/day for adults—but can have detrimental effects at higher levels.
• Adults who drink between 1 and 2 L of water per day would receive the beneficial amounts of fluoride from the water.