Prevention---- 5th class Prof. Dr.

Ban Sahib

Lecture- 11 Toxicity of fluoride

For more than 6 decades, fluoride has been the first line of defense against caries. After years of laboratory research, animal experiments, and
clinical trials, researchers now have a good idea how fluoride works to prevent tooth decay. They have also learned more about how fluoride
interferes with a number of host biological processes.
Clinicians should be aware of the total daily fluoride intake to which their patients are exposed. Once the background exposure is known, side
effects can be minimized
while ensuring maximum anti-caries benefit is attained
Fluoride toxicity: refers to excess fluoride ingestion involving acute or chronic form.
Sources of excess systemic fluoride
Water, beverages, and food: Fluoride is the thirteenth most abundance element in the earth’s crust and occurs naturally in ocean water at levels of
about 1.3 ppm , up to15 ppm in groundwater, and up to 2,000 ppm in soil. Certain foods contain more fluoride than others. Dark tea, for example,
is enriched in fluoride and can range between 3 and 6 ppm. Accidental fluoridation overfeeds have resulted in acute fluoride poisoning, and
could result in death in addition there have been accidental exposures of the concentrated fluoridation chemicals that have resulted in severe
acute fluoride chemical burns and life-threatening squeal. In past years, skin burns of this type were common for many water engineers who
emptied drums of fluoride agents into the hoppers feeding water supplies.
Medicines: In addition to fluoride supplements, many common pharmaceuticals used in medicine are fluorinated. The more common ones
include Celebrex, Cipro, Diflucan, Prozac, Dalmane, Lipitor, and nearly all of the halogenated general anesthetics. Depending on the
molecular formula, these drugs contain from 3–17% fluorine by weight. Some have been shown to lose free fluoride from defluorination by
cytochrome P450 enzymes.
Pollution: Increased fluoride intake can occur from inhaling fluoride-polluted air. Ample were much higher near steel plants. The highest fluoride
levels found in air have been documented in area where coal is burned extensively for industrial power generation. In some areas, where dental
fluorosis has been documented to be quite severe and skeletal fluorosis has been observed, the concentration of fluoride in ambient can be as
high as 11 μg/m3.

(1 PPM = 1,000 microgram per meter cubed. Similarly, 1 microgram

1 per meter cubed = 0.001 PPM).
Acute toxicity—clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment
Acute toxicity occurs due to single ingestion of a large dose of fluoride at one time. The severity depends on the amount and form of fluoride
ingested, age and weight of person as well as the rate of absorption.
The FDA and occupational safety health legislation carefully regulates the handling of fluorides in industry and in the marketplace.
Commercial dental fluoride products and professional practices can be toxic and even lethal when used inappropriately
Every parent (and health care professional) should be aware of the potential emergency that could result from an ingestion of a sizable
amount of fluoride. The investigators have recommended a probable toxic dose (PTD) standard based on body weight as a more practical
approach to making treatment decisions. They defined the probably toxic dose (PTD) as: the minimum dose that could cause toxic signs and
symptoms, including death, and that should trigger immediate therapeutic intervention and hospitalization and that dose with it, the
urgency for first aid and more definitive emergency treatment can be determined rapidly.
The PTD approach, first reported bases the level and urgency of treatment on the number of multiples of 5 mg/kg of fluoride ingested.
For example the sources of a probably toxic dose in low weight 28-month toddler
weighing 10 kg (22 pounds) are listed in Table below. This table can be used for quickly judging whether or not toddlers or children
weighing more than 10 kg have consumed a toxic dose of fluoride.

2
Excessive exposure to fluoride results in four general reactions:
(1)when a concentrated fluoride salt contacts moist skin or mucous membrane, hydrofluoric acid forms, causing a chemical burn ( ulceration and
necrosis can occur)
(2)inhibition of enzyme systems
(3)binding calcium needed for nerve action
(4)hyperkalemia (excessive amount of potassium in the bloodstream) contributing to cardiotoxicity (damage to the heart muscle).
Following excessive ingestion of fluoride, nausea and vomiting can occur. The vomiting is usually caused by the formation of hydrofluoric acid
in the acid environment of the stomach, causing damage to the lining cells of the stomach wall. Local or general signs of muscle tetany (intermittent,
prolonged spasms) ensue from a drop in blood calcium (hypocalcemia). Abdominal pain can accompany this effect. Finally, as the hypocalcemia and
hyperkalemia intensify, the severity of the condition becomes ominous with the onset of the three C’s that can indicate death (coma,
convulsions, and cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)).
Emergency treatment for fluoride over dose: (briefly)
If the amount ingested is less than 5 mg/kg, the office use of available calcium, aluminum, or magnesium products as first aid antidotes should
suffice.
If the amount is more than 5 mg/ kg, first aid measures should be expeditiously applied followed by hospital observation for the need for further care.
Finally, if the amount of fluoride ingested approaches or exceeds 15 mg/ kg, the immediate first aid treatment should be followed by a most urgent
action to move the patient swiftly into a hospital emergency room where cardiac monitoring, electrolyte evaluation, and shock support are
available. Ingestion of 15 mg/kg fluoride can be lethal
The blood level of fluoride reaches its maximum from one‐half to 1 hour after the fluoride is ingested; by that time treatment could be too late.
Despite all precautions, potential for signs and symptoms of acute fluoride toxicity could exist in dental office misuse of excess amounts of
professionally applied topical fluoride. To be prepared for such an unlikely emergency, the professional staff should be trained to institute emergency
procedures if necessary 3
Actions are especially significant in treating fluoride poisoning (If the amount is more than 5 mg/ kg ):
Induced vomiting is beneficial and often occurs spontaneously. When vomiting does occur, the majority of the ingested fluoride is often
expelled.
Protection of the stomach by binding fluoride with orally administered milk or, better yet, milk and eggs should be given, for two reasons:
(1) as demulcents, they help protect the mucous membrane of the upper gastrointestinal tract from chemical burns and (2) they provide the
calcium that acts as a binder for the fluoride. Calcium hydroxide or an aluminum preparation can be ingested to accomplish the same
purpose. Plenty of fluid, preferably milk, should be ingested to help dilute the fluoride compound in the stomach. Preferably, the patient
should be taken directly to a hospital emergency room.
Urgent and decisive treatment is mandatory once the PTD of 15 mg/kg has been approached or exceeded. Once in a well‐equipped medical
facility, several options are possible, such as gastric lavage (use of a fluid to wash fluoride out of the stomach), blood dialysis (diffusion of
blood across a semipermeable membrane to remove the fluoride) or intravenous delivery of calcium gluconate to maintain blood calcium
levels. Every effort should be made to rid the body rapidly of the fluoride or to negate its toxicity before refractory (resistant to treatment)
hyperkalemia and cardiac fibrillation (rapid, irregular contraction of muscle fibers in the heart) become a more serious problem than the
fluoride intoxication.
Generally, death from ingestion of excessive fluoride occurs within 4 hours; if the individual survives for 4 hours, the prognosis is guarded
to good.
General factors affecting acute toxicity:
 Form of administration: Fluoride toxicity from solution type is greater because of rapid absorption.
 Age: Younger age is severely affected by fluoride toxicity.
 Rate of absorption is high when empty stomach.
 Type of fluoride ion as stannous fluoride is slightly more toxic than others.
Chronic Excessive Fluoride Exposure (toxicity):
Non-dental clinical signs
Excess fluoride ingestion can lead to joint pain and bone problems. This is a major problem in areas of endemic fluorosis. Dentists should
be aware that administration 4
of too much fluoride for home use may put the patient at risk for joint pain or bone problems.
The exceedingly high level of continual intake of fluoride for 10 to 20 years resulted in a severe skeletal fluorosis characterized by
osteosclerosis (abnormal increase in thickness and density of bone), calcification of the tendons, and the appearance of multiple exostoses
(bony growths that arise from the bone’s surface) and often accompanying osteoporosis, osteomalacia, or osteopenia .
Other factors that increase the severity of skeletal fluorosis are high temperatures with a concomitant increase in drinking episodes, an
elevated intake of fluoride in food, nutritional diseases (low vitamin D and calcium diets)
Briefly the severity of toxicity depends on:
 The duration of fluoride intake.
 Age of individuals.
 Total amount of fluoride ingested.
 Concentration of fluoride.
If a dentist suspects excess chronic fluoride intake, it would be prudent to refer to a physician with some knowledge in fluoride toxicity.
Fluoride tests are not routine in family practice, and referral to a physician or hospital with experience in dealing with fluoride poisoning
should be considered.
Medical management of chronic fluoride toxicity
Chronic fluoride poisoning is more difficult to recognize and manage. When everyone in an entire community appears to have
symptoms of nausea and vomiting, fluoridation overfeed, especially in small communities, should be considered as a potential cause, and
the public health department should be alerted.
Bottle-fed infants that do not tolerate formula may improve with straight formula or formula reconstituted with distilled water or that treated
by reverse osmosis (RO).
Patients who consume large quantities of water or who have renal problems should avoid fluoridated water altogether.
Physicians should at least consider that some joint pain complaints may simply be the result of exposure to too much fluoride and reduce the
fluoride intake.
Home Security of Fluoride Products
The lack of secure home storage of (OTC) medications (also known as nonprescription medication) and prescription fluoride
products poses hazards to consumers. As presently packaged, the fluoride content of OTC fluoride products can exceed the probable toxic
dose (PTD) for children. Clearly, parents need to be educated about the hazards of fluoride‐containing dental products.
5
Dentifrices, mouth rinses, and fluoride supplements need to be securely stored when young children are in the home.
Also, health professionals need to be educated about the emergency treatment protocol for excessive intake of fluoride.
Recommendations to avoid toxicity:
 Parent supervision.
 Using of small amount of fluoride professionally.
 Keep fluoride products out of reach of children