Fluoride Inhibition
Fluoride is a known competitor of enolase’s substrate 2-PG. The fluoride is part of a complex with magnesium and phosphate, which binds in the active site instead of 2-PG. As such, drinking fluoridated water provides fluoride at a level that inhibits oral bacteria enolase activity without harming humans. Disruption of the bacteria’s glycolytic pathway - and, thus, its normal metabolic functioning - prevents dental caries from forming.
Read more about this topic: Enolase