The first thing we are going to do before entering fully into the meaning of the term fluorine is to know its etymological origin. In this case, we can establish that it is a neologism that derives from Latin, specifically from the word “fluor”, which can be translated as “flow” or “current”.
It is interesting to know that it was isolated for the first time in 1886 by the French chemist Henri Moissan, after trying to obtain it for more than seven decades but without success and bringing with it numerous deaths among those who wanted to do it.
Fluorine is the chemical element with symbol F , whose atomic number is 9 . It is a toxic and highly reactive substance, with an intense odor and greenish or yellowish color.
Belonging to the group of halogens , if found at room temperature, fluorine is a gas . In its pure form it is a highly dangerous element for humans, since it produces serious burns if it touches the skin. In nature, however, it always appears combined with other elements.
Typically, fluorine appears as fluoride in the Earth 's crust. A fluoride is a compound that has a fluoride ion combined with an element that has a positive charge.
The concept of fluoride is usually associated with the fluoride that is added to toothpaste with the aim of preventing the development of cavities . Typically it is sodium fluoride ( NaF ): when a person uses a toothpaste or mouthwash that contains this fluoride, the sodium fluoride contributes to hardening the enamel , making it more resistant (and, therefore, minimizing the risk of cavities).
In the same way, we have to emphasize that the fluoride present in toothpastes is also very useful to reduce the risks of decalcification and to deal with all types of bacteria.
After meals, saliva contains acids that promote the demineralization of the teeth. But when saliva has a lower level of acidity, the opposite happens, since it replenishes phosphorus and calcium . If fluoride is included in this remineralization process, the minerals become harder and strengthen the teeth. Thus, as the demineralization phase that develops after eating is generated again, the teeth resist better.
In addition to everything indicated, you should know that if you choose to resort to fluoride in order to avoid the appearance of cavities in the mouth, it cannot only be used through toothpaste. Specifically, it can also be found for sale in water, in tablets and even in drops.
No less interesting is that there are different foods that are considered to also provide the body with interesting amounts of fluoride. Specifically, among the most significant are oranges, chicken meat, cod, lettuce, vegetables, salmon, dairy products, gelatin, spinach or sardines.
It should be noted that fluoride can also be added to drinking water for the same purpose: the prevention of cavities. In any case, it must be taken into account that excess fluoride is toxic .