Research progress on the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine on fluorosis

Fluoride is an important trace element in the human body and has active chemical properties, but its safety range is narrow. Excessive intake of fluoride can easily lead to fluorosis and various metabolic disorders, mainly manifested as dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. In recent years, an increasing number of scholars have studied traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) because of its long history, few side effects, convenient oral administration and abundant resources. This paper reviews the current research. The results of the literature review show that traditional Chinese medicine, such as asparagus, cistanche deserticola and quercetin, can effectively prevent and treat fluorosis diseases that affected soft and hard tissues of the body due to is antioxidant properties. Moreover, the protective effect of TCM on fluoride-excreting organs of the body can further restore the fluoride-excreting ability of the body and reduce the damage caused by excessive fluoride on tissues as well as reduce fluoride in tissues by combining with excessive fluoride in the body. TCM can effectively improve the pain and joint dysfunction caused by skeletal fluorosis. Traditional Chinese medicine has important value in the prevention and treatment of fluorosis by enhancing immunity, promoting metabolism, eliminating fluoride in vivo, and improving the self-regulation mechanism to prevent fluoride toxic damage in the body.