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fluoride
[U] Uncountable
This term is most frequently encountered in dental and public health contexts. It carries a strong association with preventative medicine and hygiene, though in certain political or fringe health circles, it is a focal point of controversy regarding water fluoridation. While it is a chemical term, in common speech it is treated as a functional ingredient rather than a raw element. It evokes the clinical smell of a dentist office and the slippery texture of oral care products.
Used as a mass noun for the chemical substance, such as fluoride in the water supply.