Fluoride was promoted in the developed western world for preventing Dental Caries nearly 7 decades ago. This was based on certain assumptions such as fluoride being an electronegative element (F¯), would bind with posi­tively charged calcium (Ca++) and form calcium fluoroapatite crystals in the tooth enamel. Calcium fluoroapatite would withstand acid dissolution. The acids are produced by the bacteria breeding in the unhygienic oral cavity which is the primary cause for Dental Caries. The assumption that fluoride will bind with calcium of the enamel and will make the tooth stronger is a myth rather than science.

In reality when fluoride is ingested through drinking water/any other source, fluoride accumulates in the teeth and calcium is gradually lost from the matrix. The data given in Table 1 is the evidence of this reality.
It is evident from the data reported in Table 1 that the contents of fluoride in different tooth samples (central and lateral incisors, premolar and molar) are enhanced in fluorosed teeth of the mild, moderate and severe forms of Dental Fluorosis. Whereas the calcium content in the tooth samples is reduced considerably as the severity of the disease is enhanced.

Table - 1
Fluoride, calcium, phosphate and magnesium contents in normal
and fluorosed human teeth

Source of Information:   
Human & Animal study of Dental Fluorosis: B.P. Rajan and N. Gnanasundaram, Madras Dental College, Madras, 1989. (Report: The Ministry of Environment &  Forests. Government of India).