This report describes the benefits to dental health of exposure to fluorides and the toxicologic effects of fluorides based on the relevant scientific literature published through September 1988. In general, original reports were used for evaluation of results between 1980 and 1988, and review articles were used for results published prior to 1980. This report is confined to effects of inorganic fluorides. Throughout this report the term" fluoridation" refers to the addition of fluoride to drinking water supplies.

The halogen fluorine is the most electronegative and one of the most reactive of the elements. Consequently, it does not exist in the elemental state in nature, where in combination it comprises 0.065% of the Earth's uppermost crust. Fluorine forms numerous inorganic salts and also occurs in countless organic compounds, substituting for hydrogen. Fluorides are used in wire and cable insulations, pipe linings, rocket propellants, rodenticides, refrigerants, aerosol propellants, polymers for plastics, in the separation of uranium isotopes, and in the aluminum, beryllium, antimony, superphosphate fertilizer, glass, electronic ceramics, fluorspar, and the brick industries.