[Cariostatic mechanisms of fluoride and its effects on human beings]

Fluorine is ubiquitous in man's environment, rocks, soil, water, air, etc, and mainly is in the form of inorganic fluoride (compounds of fluorine) and utilized extensively for industrial and medical purposes. It is also known that fluoride has both beneficial and toxic effects in man. One of the most beneficial effects of fluorine on human health is the application of fluoride solution for the prevention or reduction the incidence of dental caries. The major cariostatic mechanisms is believed to be that fluoride reduces dental caries through influencing the morphology of teeth by reducing the solubility of the enamel and promoting remineralization, and through its effect on oral cariogenic bacteria. Recently, the possible beneficial effects of fluoride on osteoporosis have been studied. Chronic effects of fluoride, described by many epidemiological studies, are only dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. Most cases of acute poisoning in human subjects have been associated with the suicidal, accidental or experimental (by researcher himself) ingestion of a fluoride solution.