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9/15/43 M. 55 yrs. (READING 3211-1)
DENTISTRY:GENERAL
Q-1. Regarding the universal approach: Is it true, as it is thought, that the intake of certain form and percentage of fluorine in drinking water
causes mottled enamel of the teeth?
A-1. This to be sure, is true: but this is also untrue unless there is considered the other properties with which such is associated in drinking water.
If there are certain percents of fluorine with free limestone, we will find it is beneficial. If there are certain percents with indications of magnesium, sulphur and the like, we will have one motley, another decaying at the gum.
Q-2. Does too much fluorine cause decay of teeth, and where is the border line?
A-2. Read what has just been indicated. It depends upon the combinations more than it does upon the quantity of fluorine itself. But, to be sure, too much fluorine in the water would not make so much in the teeth as it would in other elements or activities which may be reflected in teeth; not as the cause of same but producing a disturbance that may contribute to the condition.
but where there is iron or sulphur or magnesium, be careful.
To perfectly understand it would be preferable to understand these:
There are areas within the United States - such as in some portions of Texas, portions in Arizona, others in Wyoming - where the teeth are seldom ever decayed. Study the water there, the quantity of fluorine there, the lack of iron or sulphur or the proportions of sulphur; that is in the regular water.
There are many sections, of course, where fluorine added to the water, with many other chemicals would be most beneficial. There are others where, even a small quantity added would be very detrimental.
Hence it cannot be said positively that this or that quantity should be added save in a certain degree of other chemicals being combined with same in the drinking water.
But there are some places where you have few or none. For, here we will find a great quantity of either iron or sulphur, while in some places in the West - as in the central portion of Texas in certain vicinities, you won't find any decay. Certain cases in the North Western portion of Arizona, or close within some part of Chenyenne, Wyoming, will not be found to show decay - if the water that is used is from the normal source of supply. But where there have been contributions from other supplies of water,m there will be found variations in the supply of magnesium and other chemicals - as from the flowing over or arsenic and such - these cause destruction to the teeth.
Q - 4. Could the diet give the required amount of fluorine for prevention of decay?
A - 4. It could aid but depending upon the water and other conditions - there's no definite.
Q -13. Should drinking water in certain localities be prepared with a percentage of fluorine for prevention of decay and for prevention mottled enamel in teeth? If so, how and where?
A - 13. This would have to be tested in the various districts themselves, much as has been indicated. There's scarcely an individual place in Ohio that it wouldn't be helpful, for it will get rid of and add to that condition to cause a better activity in the thyroid glands; while, for general use, in such a district as Illinois (say in the extreme northern portion) it would be harmful. These would necessarily require testing, according to the quantities of other conditions or minerals or elements in the water.