Fluoride News and Research

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Fluoride is a form of the element fluorine that helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride may be naturally present in drinking water or may be added to it. Fluoride may also be put directly on the teeth, as a gel, toothpaste, or a rinse.

Study reveals how overexposure to fluoride causes defects in tooth enamel

Exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel- a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood, arises.

18 Feb 2020

PFAS associated with greater tooth decay in children

Children with higher concentrations of a certain chemical in their blood are more likely to get cavities, according to a new study by West Virginia University School of Dentistry researchers.

6 Feb 2020

Sugary diet can promote periodontal diseases

Sweet soft drinks and lots of sugar increase the risk of both dental cavities and inflammation of the gums - known as periodontal diseases - and if this is the case, then healthy eating habits should be prioritised even more. This is the conclusion of a research result from Aarhus University.

30 Jan 2020

Vitamin D in pregnancy reduces risk of enamel defects in offspring

An important randomized trial shows that when vitamin D is supplemented at high doses in the last three months of pregnancy, there is a fall in the occurrence of enamel defects in the deciduous (milk) and permanent teeth of the offspring by half, over the next 6 years, compared to a low dose supplementation. However, the incidence of caries was not affected.

27 Jan 2020

Mother's obesity in pregnancy linked to impaired motor skills and lower IQ in boys

A mother's obesity in pregnancy can affect her child's development years down the road, according to researchers who found impaired motor skills in preschoolers and lower IQ in middle childhood for boys whose mothers were severely overweight while expecting them.

22 Dec 2019

Simple, new test can detect dangerous levels of fluoride in drinking water

Northwestern University synthetic biologists developed a simple, inexpensive new test that can detect dangerous levels of fluoride in drinking water.

16 Dec 2019

A dentist's drill may not be the best way to manage tooth decay in children

A dentist's drill might not be the best way to tackle tooth decay in children's teeth, a new study has concluded.

27 Nov 2019

Tips to help older adults maintain good oral health

Older adults are at an especially high risk for mouth and tooth infections and the complications that can come with these problems.

10 Nov 2019

Oral health plays increasing role in overall health of the elderly

Oral health is a critical component to overall health for all ages, but according to dental and medical experts from UConn Health, vigilance is especially critical for the elderly.

26 Sep 2019

Fluoride varnish: is there any benefit?

Though hugely popular for preventing dental decay in children, fluoride varnish may not be anything but an expensive placebo, it turns out, from the results of a new study by University of Washington researchers.

20 Sep 2019

Common bacterium can chew through PFAS and other difficult-to-remove pollutants

In a series of lab tests, a relatively common soil bacterium has demonstrated its ability to break down the difficult-to-remove class of pollutants called PFAS, researchers at Princeton University said.

19 Sep 2019

Several maternal fluoride-offspring IQ studies should provoke moratorium on fluoridation

Critics of the fluoride-IQ study published this month in JAMA Pediatrics claimed it needed replication. However, the Canadian study by Green (2019) was already a replication of another U.S. government-funded study published in 2017 by Bashash which found similar effects, reports the Fluoride Action Network.

31 Aug 2019

ADHA comments on a study linking maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy and children's IQ scores

The American Dental Hygienists' Association supports community water fluoridation as a safe and effective method for reducing the incidence of dental caries throughout the lifespan.

30 Aug 2019

Elite athletes have high rates of oral disease despite frequent brushing

Elite athletes have high rates of oral disease despite brushing their teeth more frequently than most people, finds a new UCL study.

25 Aug 2019

Is higher fluoride intake in pregnancy affecting kids’ IQ?

A new study suggests that fluoride consumption at higher levels in pregnancy could be linked to a decline in IQ by a few points in the children. Experts disagree on the acceptability of this finding, which has stirred up questions about fluoridation of public drinking water supplies.

20 Aug 2019

Fluoride may reduce kidney and liver function among youth

Fluoride may lead to a reduction in kidney and liver function among adolescents, according to a study published by Mount Sinai researchers in Environment International in August.

8 Aug 2019

Mothers with gestational diabetes transferring harmful 'forever chemicals' to their fetus

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts have found that pregnant women with gestational diabetes have a higher rate of passing on harmful synthetic chemicals called PFAS (17 - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to their unborn babies and thus risking their health.

17 Jul 2019