June 12, 2022

Fluoride Intake in Young Children Should Be Monitored

For a long time, we’ve known that fluoride protects tooth enamel from decay. We’ve also discovered that consuming fluoride early in life results in better teeth later in life. While fluoride has been shown to be usually benign, too much fluoride in the diet of young children can cause enamel fluorosis. This disorder causes teeth to appear mottled or streaked, from light white areas to darker, pitting stains. Fluorosis isn’t harmful to teeth, but it does make them look less appealing.

Keep track of intake

To avoid this, you may need to keep track of your infant’s or young child’s fluoride consumption with the help of your dentist. This will be influenced by your location as well as your child’s hygiene and eating habits.

Your local utility, like three-quarters of public water systems, may be adding fluoride to your drinking water. The amount is limited by federal rules, which currently recommend no more than 0.70 parts per million of fluoride in drinking water. The amount of fluoride in your water could affect your child’s total fluoride consumption. By contacting your water utility company, you can find out exactly how much fluoride is in your water.

Toothpaste and other hygiene items are another major source of fluoride. Decrease the amount of toothpaste on your child’s brush to limit their fluoride exposure. Children under the age of two only only a “smear,” while those aged two to six only require a pea-sized amount.

Fluoridated water was utilized in the manufacturing of processed goods, therefore they may contain fluoride. Replace as many processed foods as possible in your family’s diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, and other foods in this scenario.

In a similar vein, if you have a newborn, you should pay extra attention to feeding formula, particularly the powdered version that you combine with water. Consider different infant feeding options if you’re concerned about the level of fluoride in your water. You can use ready-to-feed pre-mixed with water (typically lower in fluoride) or combine powdered formula with bottled water particularly labeled “de-ionized,” “purified,” “demineralized,” or “distilled” in addition to breast-feeding.

This can be a lot to remember, but your dentist can help. Fluoride is still an effective weapon against tooth decay and a safeguard for your child’s oral health now and in the future.