Fluorosis? Whats this?

When fluoride is eaten it enters the body and may interfere with developing teeth if too much is ingested. In young children this may occur due to the child eating toothpaste, but also some parts of the world such as certain parts of India, fluoride is found in well water at very a high level.

How does this effect the teeth?

Teeth are formed inside the gum when we are young, the cells that build the teeth are very delicate and can be disrupted by things like chicken pox or high doses of fluoride. Some children eat toothpaste and therefore have a high level of fluoride in their bloodstream. This disrupts the cells which are making the teeth which leaves a white mottling of the enamel. Generally this is very mild though in some VERY extreme cases the enamel can become crumbly.