Macie has staining and pitting of her teeth. She drinks three glasses of milk per day and enjoys yogurt as a snack. She lives in an urban area of the United States and regularly brushes her teeth and rinses afterward with a cavity-fighting solution. The cause of the stains and pits in her teeth are most likely caused by:
A) excessive copper.
B) inadequate iron.
C) excessive calcium.
D) inadequate fluoride.
E) excessive fluoride.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described in Macie's case, such as staining and pitting of the teeth, are indicative of dental fluorosis, which is caused by excessive fluoride intake during the years when the teeth are developing. Given that she lives in an urban area of the United States where fluoride levels in water are controlled but also consumes a lot of dairy products (which may not be related but indicates a focus on dental health), the excessive fluoride is likely from another source, possibly the cavity-fighting rinse she uses or another external source of fluoride not mentioned.

Macie Has Staining and Pitting of Her Teeth