Hello to a special population who take interest in and ownership of their own oral health. To those in this world who trust the pure and beautiful thing that is science (ie, testing theories to confirm truth), I salute you! For those who still fear or mistrust science, I wish you an open mind and the oral health benefits of fluoride that have been proven safe and effective only with the agonizing labor of scientific method over decades and thousands of studies. Enjoy this:
*Water fluoridation is recognized as a major public health achievement of the 20th Century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
*Although dental caries (decay process) is largely preventable, it remains the most common chronic disease of children ages 5-17 years.
*Studies have demonstrated that people in communities with fluoridated water have 20-40% less tooth decay than those without. (above facts from the Washington State Dept of Health)
*Fluoride occurs naturally in the earth’s water and is the 13th most prevalent element in the earth’s crust. (US Dept of Health/Human Svcs. Oral Health in America, 2000 p. 158)
*Enamel is dynamic, like bones. It gains and loses minerals. (Have you heard of bones losing density (ie osteoprosis)? Fluoride, because of its chemical properties, remineralizes enamel to make it stronger.
*Fluoride taken internally via water, tablets, or drops, strengthens developing teeth that are still under the gums. Fluoride applied topically, as with toothpaste, soaks into the enamel and strengthens teeth that are exposed to harmful bacteria that cause cavities.
*Fluoride can be removed from water through reverse osmosis or distillation.
*Fluoridation of community water supplies is supported by the American Dental Association, the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization.
Want more? Check this out:
Initially the key-position of partially fluorinated low molecular weight compounds labelled either with the natural 19F-isotope for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or labelled with the radioactive [18F]-isotope for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is highlighted. Both non-invasive methods belong to the most challenging in vivo imaging techniques in oncology, neurology and in cardiology for the diagnosis of diseases having the highest mortality in the industrialized countries.
The manifold facets of fluorinated biomaterials range from inorganic ceramics to perfluorinated organic molecules. Liquid perfluorocarbons are suitable for oxygen transport and as potential respiratory gas carriers, while fluorinated polymers are connected to the pathology of blood vessels. Another important issue concerns the application of highly fluorinated liquids in ophthalmology. Moreover, fluorine is an essential trace element in bone mineral, dentine and tooth enamel and is applied for the prophylaxis and treatment of dental caries. The various origins of human exposure to fluoride species is detailed to promote a better understanding of the effect of fluoride species on living organisms.
Medicinally relevant fluorinated molecules and their interactions with native proteins are the main focus of the third part. New molecules fluorinated in strategic position are crucial for the development of pharmaceuticals with desired action and optimal pharmacological profile. Among the hundreds of marketed active drug components there are more than 150 fluorinated compounds. The chapters will illustrate how the presence of fluorine atoms alters properties of bioactive compounds at various biochemical steps, and possibly facilitate its emergence as pharmaceuticals. Finally the synthetic potential of a fluorinase, the first C-F bond forming enzyme, is summarized.
– New approach of topics involving chemistry, biology and medicinal techniques
– Transdisciplinar papers on fluoride products
– Importance of fluoride products in health
– Updated data on specific topics