fluoride

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fluoride Any salt of hydrogen fluoride (HF); more particularly, fluoride compounds added to drinking water or toothpaste in order to build up resistance to tooth decay. Fluoride protection appears to result from the formation of a fluorophosphate complex in the outer tooth layers, making them resistant to penetration by acids made by mouth bacteria. Some public concern exists about water authorities using fluoridation, but research has shown that the ratio used, 1 part of fluoride to per million tap water, is harmless.

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