Fluorine is a chemical element from the halogen group that occurs in nature, mainly in the earth's crust and in large areas of salt water. The most common form in which it is usually found is in its fluoride ion and, very rarely, in its pure state. Some foods, such as fish, chicken, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, wheat, rice and some fruits, may contain it in greater or lesser quantities.

Among its industrial uses, it can be used to enrich uranium, make Teflon, table salts, treat surfaces, catalyze reactions, increase the fluidity of glass or process aluminum, toothpaste, among many others. When fluorine occurs in its pure state, it can be very reactive and dangerous, which is why most of the time it is bound to other minerals or substances.

Some countries have adopted the measure of applying this chemical to public water sources, in order to make them suitable for human consumption and enhance the oral health of their citizens, but is it really so good to introduce it into the body?


Numerous studies have shown an effect on excessive fluoride consumption, causing hypothyroidism, damage to the central nervous system, dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis, lack of concentration, fatigue, poor memory, among other effects.

More than 100 years ago, in 1917, Dr. F. S. McKay noticed that the population of Colorado Springs had stained teeth, bosio (hypothyroidism) but did not have cavities, likewise, in 1918, Professor Greves of Ultrecht, Holland, noticed the same situation, since they had a high consumption of fluoride in water wells. And in 1919, Dr. Goldenberg in Argentina concluded that hypothyroidism was not caused by a lack of iodine, but by an excess of fluoride. Because of these findings, in 1926 the industry began using fluoride to treat hyperthyroidism, by government mandate fluoride in drinking water, and in the industry in toothpastes to treat cavities. The reality is that fluoride is bactericidal and prevents the formation of cavities, however, it causes more problems than it cures.


Studies have shown that a concentration of 0.5 µmol/L (10 µg/L) was sufficient to induce lipid peroxidation which results in biochemical changes in brain cells, and with only 3 µmol/L (57 µg/L) induces an inflammatory reaction.

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A study conducted in Mexico among a group of pregnant women in an area where drinking water had high levels of fluoride indicated that consumption of fluoridated water between the first and second trimester was associated with a lower index when performing a test on the Bayley scale**.


A traditional toothpaste contains 1450 ppm of fluoride, that is, 1.45 milligrams per gram of toothpaste. The amount may seem insignificant, but fluoride is cumulative in the body and over a long period of time adverse effects may appear.

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In Mexico, NOM-040-SSA1-1993 establishes that:

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"As a measure to prevent tooth decay, it is regulated that salt for human consumption must contain between 200 - 250 mg/kg of fluoride, except for states and municipalities that have levels higher than 0.7 ppm of fluoride in the water supply where only iodized salt should be distributed."

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https://www.gob.mx/cofepris/acciones-y-programas/sal-yodada-fluorurada

Developmental fluoride neurotoxicity: an updated review, Philippe Grandjean (https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-019-0551-x)

Bryant MF. F. S. McKay, history of the beginning of fluoridation. Bull Hist Dent. 1967 Jan-Jul;15(1):20-6. PMID: 5252552.

SKELETAL FLUOROSIS RODOLFO C. PUCHE, ALFREDO RIGALLI* Laboratory of Bone Biology and Mineral Metabolism, Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario (http://osteologia.org.ar/files/pdf/rid13_13.pdf)

https://www.pearsonclinical.es/bayley-iii-escalas-bayley-de-desarrollo-infantil-iii

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**"The Bayley scale is a very complete tool that helps detect possible developmental delays and develop an early intervention plan that allows minimizing long-term effects, offering each child the opportunity to succeed and progress. "