Can Fluoride be Toxic?

All substances are toxic, if the levels ingested are too high. It is well know that if a person ingests too much of the fat-soluble Vitamins A and D, they can accumulate to toxic levels in the body. Too much Iron can cause toxicity, although small amounts are necessary for health. Common table salt (Sodium Chloride), similar to Sodium Fluoride in structure, can be toxic if too much is ingested. Too much fat, too much sugar, too much caffeine – all these things are detrimental to health. No one advocates that a person takes too much of anything. Yet a minimum amount of certain nutrients, such as fluoride and calcium, are recommended for good health.

Fluoride has an affinity for teeth and bones, as does calcium, and therefore has often been suspect in bone defects. In areas where the fluoride levels in the water are naturally very high (8 ppm – 20 ppm for example) and people have ingested these high levels of fluoride for decades, there is indeed evidence of skeletal deformities or bone brittleness. Once again the level of intake makes all the difference. Research is currently being conducted on the beneficial effects of optimum levels of fluoride to increase bone density and strength.

People have been ingesting fluoride since the beginning of the human race, as fluoride is the 13th most common compound in the earths crust and is found naturally in all water supplies. Many studies have been conducted to determine the levels which result in health benefits vs. levels that are detrimental. The recommended levels are a result of this exhaustive research.