The accurate measurement of the fluoride concentration in water is an essential prerequisite to stay within the allowable dosing tolerances required by the South African water fluoridation legislation. In the absence of reliable error estimates for fluoride measurement in natural water samples, a study was conducted utilising data from interlaboratory comparison studies conducted by the CSIR, t...

Dental fluorosis refers to changes in the appearance of tooth enamel that are caused by long-term ingestion of fluoride during the time teeth are forming. Studies conducted in the 1930s showed that the severity of tooth decay was lower and dental fluorosis was higher in areas with more fluoride in the drinking water. In response to these findings, community water fluoridation programs were deve...

The beneficial effects of fluoride on human oral health are well studied. There are numerous studies demonstrating that a small amount of fluoride delivered to the oral cavity decreases the prevalence of dental decay and results in stronger teeth and bones. However, ingestion of fluoride more than the recommended limit leads to toxicity and adverse effects. In order to update our understanding ...

One of the surprises waiting for someone who decides to review the literature on the issue of water fluoridation is the discovery that, despite the impression conveyed by the promoters, the evidence that swallowing fluoride actually reduces tooth decay is very weak. In this bulletin we will begin to review the evidence that the benefits of swallowing have been wildly exaggerated and no grade A ...