Skeletal fluorosis is a health effect of excessive accumulation of
fluoride in bones leading to changes in
bone structure and making them extremely weak and brittle.
The early stages of skeletal fluorosis are characterized by increased bone
mass, detectable by x-ray. If very high fluoride intake persists over many
years, joint pain and stiffness may result from the skeletal changes.
The most severe form of skeletal fluorosis is known as "crippling skeletal
fluorosis," which may result in calcification of ligaments, immobility, muscle
wasting, and neurological problems related to spinal cord compression.
