Relating to or affected by fluorosis, a condition caused by excessive fluorine exposure that damages teeth and bones.
From 'fluorosis' (1892), combining 'fluor-' from Latin 'fluere' (to flow) and '-osis' (disease condition). The condition was named when scientists realized excess fluorine caused dental mottling and skeletal damage.
Fluorotic teeth were one of the first clues that too much of a good thing is bad—while small amounts of fluorine strengthen teeth, excessive exposure actually weakens them with white spots and brown streaks that look almost like painted enamel.
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