What term refers to fluoride ingested through food or water?

The term that refers to fluoride ingested through food or water is systemic fluoride. This type of fluoride is absorbed into the bloodstream and incorporated into developing teeth, providing a systemic benefit in the prevention of dental caries. When fluoride is consumed in this manner, it can help to strengthen tooth enamel from the inside out and make teeth more resistant to decay.

In contrast, topical fluoride is applied directly to the outside surfaces of the teeth, such as through fluoride varnishes or toothpaste, which provides a different benefit by strengthening enamel on the tooth's surface rather than through systemic absorption. Fluoridated fluoride is redundant terminology, as it simply refers to the presence of fluoride in a substance. Preventive fluoride is a broader term that could encompass both systemic and topical forms of fluoride, but it doesn't specifically denote the ingestion aspect that systemic fluoride does.

Understanding these distinctions is important for recognizing how fluoride contributes to dental health through different mechanisms.