Dental Fluorosis

What is dental fluorosis?

• Dental fluorosis is a change in enamel appearance that occurs only when the concentration of fluoride levels are too high during development of enamel.
• Thus, it can only occur during childhood.
• Changes in enamel appearance usually include only mild white spots, but severe cases can include pitting on erupted tooth surfaces.
• For this reason, community water fluoridation levels are set to a level where the community will benefit substantially for prevention of cavities, but risk of dental fluorosis is kept low.
• Furthermore, other than fluoride toothpaste for all with teeth, exposure to other sources of higher concentration fluoride products for cavity prevention should be limited to individuals who are at risk of dental cavities.

For more information on dental fluorosis, please visit the following websites:

• American Dental Association-Oral Health Topics
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-FAQs for Dental Fluorosis
• Iowa Department of Public Health-Fluoride