Early supply of fluoride and enamel fluorosis

Abstract

A study of enamel fluorosis in 1,094 children was carried out in areas with a water fluoride content of from less than 0.2 mg/l with and without supplementary fluoride, to 2.75 mg/l. The fluorosis was correlated with different infants diets and also with the calculated supply per kilo body weight. As in cattle, 0.1 mg F/kg body weight daily appears to cause fluorosis. This dose may for example be reached with water-diluted gruel powder in low-weight infants with high consumption in low F areas, in normal weight infants in 0.8 areas, and also in high-weight infants in 1.2-1.5 areas. The resultant fluorosis is very mild or mild and not disfiguring. Enamel fluorosis can be avoided or minimized in areas with up to at least 1.2 mgF/l water if F-supply, e.g. water-diluted gruel and/or supplementary fluoride, is not commenced until 6 months of age when body weight is higher. With a water fluoride content of 2.75 mg F/l a very mild fluorosis is difficult to avoid also with normal water consumption during the 1st year of life.