The issue of providing the population with high-quality drinking water remains one of the priority problems of today. In accordance with the decision of the extraordinary meeting of the regional commission on technogenic and environmental safety and emergencies of the Kharkiv region dated January 16, 2025, the Main Department of the State Service for the Supervision of Food, Agriculture and Rural Development in the Kharkiv region recalls that the non-compliance of drinking water with hygienic requirements is the main reason for the increase in the incidence of infectious diseases among the population, as well as diseases associated with chemical water pollution, in particular fluorosis.
Fluorosis is a dental disease caused by an excess of fluoride in the body. This trace element is necessary for the body for normal life, but in certain amounts. It enters the tissues with food and, mainly, with water. If there is not enough of it, bone tissue and tooth enamel are destroyed, but when there is too much of it, health problems also arise. Excess fluoride leads to a disruption of the balance of elements in the body. There is a cumulative effect of the mineral, which causes softening of hard tissues. When the body is oversaturated with fluoride, fluorosis occurs.
The first sign of the disease is a change in the color of the enamel. White spots appear on the teeth, which over time increase in size and acquire a brown tint. But fluorosis on the teeth is not only a cosmetic problem. These spots indicate that the enamel is thinned and destroyed. Without timely treatment, this will lead to tooth loss. Fluorosis can appear not only on one tooth. The pathology can capture several elements or the entire dentition. And what is important, a large percentage of patients diagnosed with the disease are children aged 4-6 years. At this stage of the formation of the dentofacial system, fluorosis can lead to irreparable consequences.
The most common cause of fluorosis is excess fluoride in drinking water.
Why is it all about the water? Although excess fluoride can be found not only in water (it is also found in food, toothpaste, etc.), the body absorbs fluoride from water better and faster. That is why drinking water oversaturated with fluoride is considered the main cause of the occurrence and development of fluorosis.
How to prevent dental fluorosis? The best method of combating the disease is its prevention. To do this, you need to follow the following rules:
- monitor the level of fluoride in drinking water and food; if there are doubts about the quality of the water, it is better to use bottled water or tap water that meets sanitary standards for drinking and cooking;
- if you live in regions with high levels of fluoride, it is advisable to take additional vitamins C, D, and calcium supplements, the dosage of which will be calculated by your family doctor;
- When a child is born, it is recommended to breastfeed him/her for as long as possible, if possible;
- eat more fresh vegetables and fruits;
- If you live in regions with high levels of fluoride in soil or water, it is recommended to limit your consumption of foods with a high concentration of the mineral (such as fish, nuts, seaweed, and spinach).