It’s Good for Your Teeth, But…

Bet it didn’t take too much for you to figure out what I’m talking about. Yep, that’s it: fluoride. Just in case you forgot what that is, let’s take a little trip to my all time favorite dictionary for the last 50 years or so. That, of course, is the Merriam Webster:

“a compound of fluorine”

Even I have to admit that doesn’t help much. Let’s try this another way. I looked at the uses of fluoride. According to WebMD:

“Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Every day, minerals are added to and lost from a tooth‘s enamel layer through two processes, demineralization and remineralization. Minerals are lost (demineralization) from a tooth‘s enamel layer when acids — formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth — attack the enamel. Minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are redeposited (remineralization) to the enamel layer from the foods and waters consumed. Too much demineralization without enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer leads to tooth decay.

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. In children under 6 years of age, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also helps speed remineralization as well as disrupts acid production in already erupted teeth of both children and adults.”

So, fluoride is good for your teeth, but not so much for your kidneys. An article in Human and Experimental Toxicology entitled Exploring the role of excess fluoride in chronic kidney disease: A review by RW Dharmaratne [School of Pharmacy, Mississippi University] tells us:

“… studies reveal that there are direct adverse effects on the kidneys by excess fluoride, leading to kidney damage and dysfunction. With the exception of the pineal gland, the kidney is exposed to higher concentrations of fluoride than all other soft tissues. Therefore, exposure to higher concentrations of fluoride could contribute to kidney damage, ultimately leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Among major adverse effects on the kidneys from excessive consumption of fluoride are

_ immediate effects on the tubular area of the kidneys, inhibiting the tubular reabsorption;

_ changes in urinary ion excretion by the kidneys

_ disruption of collagen biosynthesis in the body, causing damages to the kidneys and other organs; and

_ inhibition of kidney enzymes, affecting the functioning of enzyme pathways.”

Did you know this? I didn’t. I’m really glad my daughter started talking about fluoride with me this week. Let’s see what else I can uncover. Inkidney, an Integrative Approach to Kidney Health exlained,

“A recent study analyzed the NHANES 2013-2016 data of adolescents who had plasma and water fluoride measurements. Investigators found that each 1 micromole/L increase in plasma fluoride was associated with a 10 mL/min decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).”

Ah, so it works both ways. If you already have CKD, fluoride toxicity can worsen it. And if you don’t have CKD, fluoride toxicity may cause you to develop it.

While you debate this for yourself, keep in mind what the National Kidney Foundation maintains:

“The National Kidney Foundation has not issued specific recommendations regarding fluoride intake and kidney disease due to the limited available research on the topic. The benefits of water and dental products containing fluoride is the prevention of tooth decay and dental cavities in people of all ages. The potential health risks are a rare bone disease called skeletal fluorosis, bone fractures and severe enamel fluorosis.”

I came across a few other articles dealing with this topic, but I am not comfortable with their information since they are from so long ago. However, I can offer you a blog on dental hygiene coming soon.

Here in the United States, it is Veterans’ Day. Living with my own veteran, I would be remiss not to spend part of the blog on this holiday. You may recognize this from a long time ago:

“It’s Veterans’ Day.  I’ve been perusing Facebook all day and seeing all the Happy Veterans’ Day posts.  I seem to be having trouble with the happy part.  Why only on Veterans’ Day?  I couldn’t quite figure this one out.

Then I saw how veterans could be happy every day.  Our lovely friend and neighbor wished Bear a Happy Veterans’ Day.  This was his response:

“I always get a warm glow in my heart when family, friends, and total strangers acknowledge my 25+ years of combined reserve and active duty military service. Knowing that my service assured the next generation’s opportunities for schooling, choice of worship, and pursuit of happiness gives me great satisfaction of my career’s journey from stateside, Panama, Vietnam, Korea, Europe, and elsewhere. The next generations carry on our American Traditions, and I proudly salute these young people for their commitment, time, and hard work!”

Considering the political climate here in the United States [and the rest of the world], I wonder how much longer our young people will have these opportunities and how long our American Traditions will be around. Yes, the election results were a shock to me and just about everyone I know. Be of good heart; we will figure something out.