Fluorine Deficiency

In humans, the only clear effect of inadequate fluoride intake is an increased risk of dental caries (tooth decay) for individuals of all ages. Epidemiologic investigations of patterns of water consumption and the prevalence of dental caries across different climates and geographic regions with different water fluoride concentrations in the United States led to the development of a recommended optimum range of fluoride concentration of 0.7-1.2 mg/liter or parts per million (ppm), with the lower concentration recommended for warmer climates where water consumption is higher, and the higher concentration for colder climates. A number of studies conducted prior to the introduction of fluoride-containing toothpastes demonstrated that the prevalence of dental caries was 40% to 60% lower in communities with optimal water fluoride concentrations than in communities with low water fluoride concentrations.

The Adequate Intake (AI)

The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine updated its recommendations for fluoride intake in 1997. The FNB felt there was inadequate data to set a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), instead Adequate Intake (AI) levels were based on estimated intakes (0.05 mg/kg of body weight) that have been shown to reduce the occurrence of dental caries most effectively without causing the unwanted side effect of tooth enamel mottling known as dental fluorosis. See the section:safety for a discussion of dental fluorosis.

Adequate Intake (AI) for Fluoride
Life Stage	Age	Males (mg/day)	Females (mg/day)
Infants	0-6 months	0.01	0.01
Infants	7-12 months	0.5	0.5
Children	1-3 years	0.7	0.7
Children	4-8 years	1.0	1.0
Children	9-13 years	2.0	2.0
Adolescents	14-18 years	3.0	3.0
Adults	19 years and older	4.0	3.0
Pregnancy	all ages	-	3.0
Breastfeeding	all ages	-	3.0

See also: