Advances in Dental Research, Vol 9, 138-143, Copyright © 1995 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Salt fluoridation and general health
K. E. Bergmann and R. L. Bergmann
Department of Pediatrics, Virchow-Klinikum Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Salt fluoridation is a systemic form of fluoride supplementation, leaving
it to the consumer whether he wants fluoride supplements or not, but
thereafter not requiring special dependability for daily compliance. Most
German drinking water has low fluoride concentrations. The estimated
fluoride intake in German children is between 100 and 300 micrograms/day,
and in adults, between 400 and 600 micrograms/day. Male subjects have
higher mean intakes than females. From 70 to 90% of the salt intake of 10
to 13.5 g/day in German adults comes from commercially prepared foods. This
leaves about 1 to 4 g of salt to be added as table salt at the individual
level and to become the source of supplementary fluoride. To increase
fluoride intake by at least 500 micrograms/d, and to prevent an additional
intake of more than 3000 micrograms/day, it may be necessary to have salt
at a fluoride level of around 500 micrograms/g or to include one commercial
food to be prepared with fluoridated salt, e.g., bread. A salt fluoride
concentration of 250 micrograms/g does not present a risk of dental
fluorosis. However, clear recommendations about systemic fluoride
supplementation must be given as long as there are fluoride tablets,
fluoride-rich mineral waters, and fluoridated table salt available
simultaneously. Persons at risk for hypertension from salt consumption
require different means of fluoride supplementation. By and large, in areas
of low drinking water fluoride, fluoridated table salt has the potential to
become a means of systemic supplementation comparable with drinking water
fluoridation.
