Question

Mottling of teeth is due to the presence of which of the following chemical elements in drinking water.
A. Boron
B. Chlorine
C. Mercury
D. Fluorine

Answer 1

Teeth are the hardest part of the body used in breaking food material. Enamel is the hardest white part of the tooth and teeth are also used in speech.

Step by step answer: Dental fluorosis is a common disorder characterized by hypomineralization of tooth enamel caused by ingestion of excessive fluoride during enamel formation.
It is also known as mottling of teeth. Mottling of teeth appears as a range of visual changes in enamel causing a degree of intrinsic tooth discoloration and in some cases physical damage to the teeth.
The severity of the condition is dependent on the dose, duration, and age of the individual during the exposure.
The very mild case which is most common of fluorosis is characterized by small, paperwhite areas scattered irregularly over the tooth.
When fluorosis is moderate all the surface of the teeth are mottled and teeth may be ground down and brown stains frequently disfigure the teeth.
Some additional information :
Dental fluorosis is caused by a higher than a normal amount of fluoride ingestion in the teeth while the formation of enamel. Primary dentine fluorosis and enamel fluorosis can only occur or happen during the formation of the teeth so that fluoride exposure occurs mostly in childhood. Enamel fluorosis has a white opaque appearance which is due to the surface of enamel being hypo mineralized. The most superficial concern in dental fluorosis is an aesthetic change in the permanent dentition of the adult teeth.
Hence option D is correct.

Note: Many well-known sources for the overexposure of fluoride in our teeth are bottled water, excessive injection of fluoride toothpaste which is not tested for their fluoride content.