Fluorine has been added to toothpastes for about 100 years. This suggests that he copes with anti-caries function. But many do not know what fluoride actually looks like. Fluorine is a toxic gas that causes damage during contact with human skin. Did you know that fluorine toxicity can be compared with mercury? But at the same time, it is not as toxic as arsenic.
Fluorides are called all fluorine compounds, which also belong to toxic substances. In industry, it has been used to produce uranium hexafluoride, from which Teflon and insecticides contained in insect hounds. Fluorides are also found in toothpastes, and they have been approved by dentists all over the world.
It is worth noting that the toothpaste compounds are contained in a small amount. All bacteria that accumulate on the teeth cause demineralization, but fluoride in toothpaste prevents it and forms remineralization. Therefore, dentists recommend fluoride-containing pastes in the form of systemic therapy.
During the manufacture of toothpaste in the composition include the following components:
- sodium fluoride;
- tin fluoride;
- sodium monofluorophosphate;
- aminofluoride;
- aluminum fluoride.
When fluorides are in a tube, they are not active, but as soon as their small amount enters the mouth, they begin to dissociate into ions. As a result of this process active fluoride ions appear. Therefore, the paste must contain fluoride, because it is the main protector of teeth from caries.
Content
What are fluorides
Fluorides are a solid fluorine compound or, in other words, a hydrofluoric acid salt. There is fluoride in any drinking water, but it does not exceed the dangerous mark. In some countries it is even added to salt and other products. But scientists are warning to the dose of fluoride in the products did not exceed 0.005otherwise it is dangerous for children under 12 years old.
Fluorides can cause poisoning, because this is a toxic substance, and if you exceed its dose, the body will feel a strong load, health will deteriorate, and chronic diseases begin to progress.
Fluoride products
This substance is contained in the following products:
- mackerel, herring, shrimp, cod, seaweed and caviar;
- black and green tea;
- wholemeal bread, oatmeal, rice;
- freshwater fish;
- milk, chicken, eggs, liver;
- apples, grapefruit, spinach and onions.
Harm or benefit?
For a start, it is worth thinking about the fact that fluorine is recognized as a highly toxic substance, therefore it has a bad effect on the metabolism in the human body. Harm from him is impossible to immediately feel, because first it accumulates in the body, and only then it makes itself felt in the form of kidney disease. With age, the accumulation of fluoride in the body only accelerates, which leads to the development of degenerative diseases. Therefore, most scientists advise to avoid products containing fluoride.
When it enters the stomach, it begins to destroy its mucous membrane, then goes to the destruction of the veins and arteries. This leads to calcification of the walls of blood vessels, and then to atherosclerosis. In addition, fluorides are able to reduce the work of some organs. Fluorine is affected by the nervous system, liver, thyroid, kidneys and brain.
But dentists claim that these compounds are all necessary for healthy teeth. When fluoride interacts with calcium, fluorapatite is formed and this prevents the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity. In addition to the fact that fluoride is toxic to humans, it also harms bacteria. Therefore, with the help of fluoride, an anti-caries effect is formed. But besides all this, the benefits of it are as follows:
- It is considered one of the strongest antiseptics;
- stops the process of plaque on the teeth and the formation of stone;
- helps to improve metabolism;
- salivary glands begin to work better, and it forms a remineralization effect.
According to the study, when a person switches to toothpaste without fluoride, then caries is formed, because dental deposits quickly accumulate on the enamel, and toothpaste without fluoride is unable to remove them. If you consider the harm and benefit, the experts argue that Fluorine cannot get into the blood from the mouth, and if the paste is completely spit out and not swallowed, then there is no harm from it. For children, it is best to buy fluoride-free toothpastes, because they often swallow it.
If for some reason fluorides are in the human body, they are no longer excreted from it. First of all, they accumulate in the bones and the thyroid gland, and also replace iodine, therefore, in cases of thyroid gland, people are prescribed iodine preparations.
Fluorides can lead to rapid aging of the body, wrinkles appear, hair and nails deteriorate, and articular cartilage wears out quickly, leading to arthritis. Also, fluorine does not allow calcium to be removed from the bone tissue, which is the reason for its increase in density. As a result, the bone mass increases, and the bones lose strength and become fragile.
Symptoms of poisoning
If this substance in the body is exceeded, a person begins to feel bad, therefore, an excess of fluoride can lead to the following symptoms:
- convulsions;
- stomach pain and even the appearance of an ulcer;
- bleeding gums;
- salivation;
- malfunctions of the thyroid gland;
- hair breakage;
- allergic rhinitis;
- loss of voice.
In severe cases, fluoride poisoning can be fatal. This condition may occur with long-term intake of a substance into the human body. It can also occur when in contact with harmful chemicals containing fluorine.
Is it possible to remove fluoride from the body?
If you immediately notice the symptoms of poisoning at the initial stage, then immediately you need to reduce the consumption of products with its content. A special stage in the treatment of chronic intoxication The definition of its content in the body is considered. If the child has signs of fluorosis, you should change the toothpaste.
More help to remove fluoride drugs containing calcium, but this should be done only under the control of a blood test. Therefore, poisoning should be treated only under the supervision of a specialist and in the hospital. And frequent trips to the dentist will help to greatly reduce or balance the intake of fluoride into the body from birth.
In dentistry
It is necessary to know the differences between the consumption of fluoride and the use of fluoride. Only local application of fluoride can localize the formation of caries. But despite this, fluoride inhibits enamel strengtheningwhich ends after the complete formation of teeth. All this time, the mineralization of the teeth can be broken due to the effects of fluoride, which causes damage to the enamel.
In those countries where fluoride is added to drinking water, people have enamel too porous and white spots appear on the teeth. Toothpaste containing fluoride forms a thin protective layer on the enamelwhich protects the teeth from caries. There is one ban on fluoride toothpastes - it does not use them during pregnancy and lactation.
When buying toothpaste should be read, in which the compound is fluoride in the composition. The most effective compound that helps avoid tooth decay is sodium fluoride and aminofluoride. It is best to buy pasta containing these components. If during brushing a person does not swallow paste, then fluoride does not penetrate into the blood. It remains only on the enamel and protects the teeth. Therefore, for adults, fluoride toothpastes are safe.
In rare cases, it can harm the teeth - this is forming dental fluorosis. This disease occurs in children and is found in countries where the drinking water content is exceeded.
Is it possible to protect yourself from fluoride in the body?
To prevent the active components of fluorine from harming the body, several rules must be followed:
- Always read the composition of the toothpaste.
- If you need to take a fluorinated agent, then first of all it is best to consult a specialist.
- Do not buy children under 5 years old fluorinated paste.
- During the flight to other countries, you need to know in advance about the level of fluoride in drinking water.
- In order to reduce its ingestion during tooth brushing, it is necessary to reduce the amount of toothpaste to a small pea.
Before you choose a toothpaste, mouth rinse or special chewing plates from caries, you should consult your dentist and strictly follow all his recommendations.
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