Fluoride And Your Teeth: Protecting Smiles Naturally

Fluoride And Your Teeth: Protecting Smiles Naturally

Question 1. Describe the functions & deficiency of fluorine
Answer:

Functions of fluoride:

• Fluoride prevents the development of dental caries
• It converts hydroxyapatite to fluorapatite
• It is required for the proper development of bones
• It inhibits the activities of certain enzymes
• Sodium fluoride inhibits enolase in glycolysis
• Fluoroacetate inhibits aconitase in the TCA cycle

Deficiency of fluoride:

• Drinking water containing less than 0.5 ppm of fluoride causes the development of caries in children

Question 2. Role of Fluoride in the Prevention of dental caries
Answer:

Fluoride prevents the development of dental caries

• It converts the hydroxyapatite of teeth to acid-resistant fluorapatite
• This forms a protective covering over the enamel
• This prevents tooth bacterial acids
• Fluoride also inhibits the bacterial enzymes
• This reduces the production of acids

Question 3. Dental Fluorosis
Answer:

• It is caused by fluoride intake above 2 ppm
• Its symptoms are:
• Mottling of enamel
• Discoloration of teeth
• Teeth become weak & rough
• Brown or yellow patches appear on their surfaces