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Essential Minerals for Bone Health

Essential Minerals for Bone Health

The minerals contained in all of the food we consume are essential for our organ systems. However, certain essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and fluoride, largely affect bone health.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...

Minerals

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Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.

Roles of Electrolytes: Calcium and Phosphate

Roles of Electrolytes: Calcium and Phosphate

Calcium and phosphate are essential electrolytes in the human body, with calcium being the most abundant mineral. Around 99% of the body's calcium is stored in the skeleton and teeth, forming a crystal lattice of mineral salts in combination with phosphates. Calcium plays crucial roles in various bodily functions such as blood clotting, neurotransmitter release, muscle tone maintenance, and nervous and muscle tissue excitability.
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The Bone Matrix

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Microhardness Measurements on Tooth and Alveolar Bone in Rodent Oral Disease Models

Microhardness Measurements on Tooth and Alveolar Bone in Rodent Oral Disease Models

Published on: April 26, 2024

Fluoride and mineralized tissues.

Debbie Chachra¹, Anya P G F Vieira, Marc D Grynpas

¹Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA 02492, USA. debbie.chachra@olin.edu

Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering

|September 11, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Fluoride influences bone and teeth material properties, affecting their structure and mechanical function. Understanding these interactions is crucial for public health, from preventing cavities to managing skeletal fluorosis.

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Skeletal Biology
Dental Science

Background:

Bone and teeth are composite tissues primarily made of collagen and hydroxyapatite.
Their mechanical integrity relies on constituent properties, proportions, and structure.
Fluoride's interaction with these tissues has significant clinical and public health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the multifaceted interactions between fluoride and the material properties of bone and teeth.
To elucidate the mechanisms by which fluoride affects mineralized tissue at various doses.
To highlight the clinical and public health consequences of fluoride exposure.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on fluoride's effects on bone and dental tissues.
Analysis of dose-dependent fluoride interactions with hydroxyapatite and collagen.
Examination of clinical outcomes associated with different fluoride exposure levels.

Main Results:

Low fluoride doses stabilize hydroxyapatite, reducing dental caries incidence.
Therapeutic fluoride doses (e.g., for osteoporosis) can alter tissue structure and collagen-mineral interfaces.
High fluoride doses lead to skeletal and dental fluorosis, causing debilitating changes and enamel defects.

Conclusions:

Fluoride significantly modulates the material properties and structural integrity of mineralized tissues.
The effects of fluoride are dose-dependent, ranging from beneficial (caries prevention) to detrimental (fluorosis).
A comprehensive understanding of fluoride's impact is essential for optimizing its use and mitigating adverse effects.