Children's Health Current Topics in Children's Health

Dentists Urge Caution with Fluoride for Infants

(HealthCentersOnline) - Dentists have urged parents to monitor infants' fluoride consumption. This came in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of health claims for fluoridated bottled waters.

The approval of health claims for fluoridated bottled waters means that bottlers may now claim that optimally fluoridated water may help prevent tooth decay. However, this claim is not approved for bottled waters marketed for infants. Infants require less fluoride than older children and adults, and excess fluoride can lead to a type of tooth discoloration called fluorosis.

Fluorosis generally involves minor discoloration of tooth enamel, such as the appearance of white or opaque lines, streaks or spots. In severe cases, the discoloration may appear as brown, black or gray spots, and the enamel may become pitted or misshapen. Fluorosis occurs in children whose teeth are still developing. After teeth have erupted in the mouth, they are no longer susceptible to fluorosis.

"Parents who are using baby formula in the first year of their child's life want to closely evaluate the amount of fluoride in the water," Dr. Dick Wiberg of the Minnesota Dental Association said in a press release.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has issued guidelines to help parents monitor their infants' consumption of fluoride. They recommend breast milk over formula, and ready-to-feed formula over liquid concentrate or powdered formula. If liquid concentrate or powdered formula is used, the ADA recommends mixing it with fluoride-free water, such as purified, demineralized, deionized, distilled or reverse osmosis filtered water.

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