What is skeletal fluorosis?

• A. A disease where bones become brittle
• B. A disease where the joints become stiffened
• C. The blue baby disease
• D. A disease where teeth become mottled

Answer: (A)

Skeletal fluorosis is a fluoride-related bone disease that develops after long-term exposure to high fluoride levels. Fluoride accumulates in the bones and alters mineralization, which changes bone quality. Over time this can make bones unusually dense but also more prone to fracture, effectively making them feel brittle. In more advanced stages, ligaments near the joints can calcify, leading to stiffness and reduced mobility. So describing bones as becoming brittle best captures the impact on bone quality from fluoride exposure. The other options point to teeth mottling (dental fluorosis) or unrelated conditions, rather than the bone changes characteristic of skeletal fluorosis.