Salt fluoridation and general health.

Salt fluoridation is a systemic form of fluoride supplementation, leaving it to the consumer whether he wants fluoride supplements or not, but thereafter not requiring special dependability for daily compliance. Most German drinking water has low fluoride concentrations. The estimated fluoride intake in German children is between 100 and 300 micrograms/day, and in adults, between 400 and 600 micrograms/day. Male subjects have higher mean intakes than females. From 70 to 90% of the salt intake of 10 to 13.5 g/day in German adults comes from commercially prepared foods. This leaves about 1 to 4 g of salt to be added as table salt at the individual level and to become the source of supplementary fluoride. To increase fluoride intake by at least 500 micrograms/d, and to prevent an additional intake of more than 3000 micrograms/day, it may be necessary to have salt at a fluoride level of around 500 micrograms/g or to include one commercial food to be prepared with fluoridated salt, e.g., bread. A salt fluoride concentration of 250 micrograms/g does not present a risk of dental fluorosis. However, clear recommendations about systemic fluoride supplementation must be given as long as there are fluoride tablets, fluoride-rich mineral waters, and fluoridated table salt available simultaneously. Persons at risk for hypertension from salt consumption require different means of fluoride supplementation. By and large, in areas of low drinking water fluoride, fluoridated table salt has the potential to become a means of systemic supplementation comparable with drinking water fluoridation.