Fluorosis

Diseases typified by damage to teeth (dental fluorosis, marked through brown mottling of the enamel) and bones, resulting from excessive fluoride intake. Dental fluorosis grows more common once water fluoride passes a certain level; higher levels cause systemic fluorosis with calcification of ligaments. Endemic skeletal fluorosis affects populations drinking groundwater with several mg/L fluoride over decades, causing joint stiffness and bone deformities; dental fluorosis appears at lower excess levels during tooth development. Prevention centres on defluoridation of water supplies — by activated alumina or reverse osmosis — in affected regions.