Fluoride And Brain: A Review

The mammalian central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that allows selective traffic of substances into the brain. Fluoride is a highly toxic and reactive element. We get exposed to fluoride due to its common use in toothpaste, dental gels, non-stick pans, razor blades, etc. Fluoride also enters our food chain through fishes that are cultivated in water bodies, which get contaminated with fluoride from running water from farms around it. Fluoride can accumulate on our body and cause toxic effects. In the context of fluoride, it is reported that fluoride exposure causes various toxic effects in our body, including the central nervous system as well. Fluoride is known to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter our brain tissue. It interferes with the normal metabolic process of the brain, generates free radicals and causes various toxic effects therein. Fluoride has been found to be linked to various pathogenic conditions of the brain as well. In this review, we have discussed the effects of fluoride on the different parts of the brain and the remedies in use.