To continue the teeth theme, we are lucky to have fresh spring water flowing from the roots of a tree for our household water supply. Obviously, the tree does not fluoridate the water. Given my son’s recent dental surgery and problem with early childhood caries, we have been told conflicting advice about giving him systemic fluoride available by prescription. The cardiologist, my hygienist, and a friend told us that we should be giving our youngest child supplemental fluoride. The pediatric dentists said that topical applications from toothpaste and rinses is enough. I have a friend who spent thousands of dollars for a filter to remove fluoride from their drinking water. A neighboring city just failed to pass an initiative to remove the fluoride from the drinking water, whereas a larger neighboring city failed to pass a resolution to add fluoride to the water. Dentists have come out on both sides of the issue. When you google the issue, even more conflicting information is present. Click here to read about warnings against systemic fluoride (including fluorosis). In fact, the American Dental Association recommends infants under one year of age avoid fluoridated water all together, according to Mothering Magazine. In fact, a Harvard study linked fluoridated water to bone cancer. For information in support of systemic fluoride, click here.
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[…] in your water.” I have asked my pediatrician, as well as two pediatric dentists. All agree, systemic fluoride is not effective no matter where you live. Topical fluoride protects […]
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[…] toothpastes. I do think that they help prevent cavities and strengthen teeth. I do NOT believe in fluoridated water, including nursery water, or in any other systemic […]
I don’t beleive in flouride. I’ve read too much studies with research saying it doesn’t help as much as we’re told it is. I also have a sensitivity to it. While I can get away with using it in toothpaste, in any concentrated forms such as mouth wash or cleansers used by the dentists, I get really sick. It took me years to figure out what it was. Besides, I shouldn’t have to worry about my little ones swallowing it. I’ve never understood why it says on the toothpaste not to swallow and yet they put it in our drinking water? So no flouride drops, flouridated toothpaste, or nursery water with flouride added. My little one’s have little sugar, brush twice a day, have no flouride, and they have beautiful healthy teeth. And they also floss to the best of their ability with little animal shaped picks. So where’s the real benefit?
We went to the pediatric dentist, and he confirmed what they said at UCSF, systemic flouride is no longer recommended. He said it usually takes about five years for everyone to catch onto to new recommendations. He had attended a conference, in which the presenter asked how many dentists did not prescribe systemic flouride. He was the only one. He does recommend flouride toothpaste, especially since my son has already had so much decay.
Animal flossers….I’ll have to look for those!
I am a retired dental hygenist. We were taught if flouride is in your system when your teeth are forming the enamel ( the last tooth component to be formed before teeth erupt) the enamel containes fluorapatite which is highly resistant to cavities. I have 3 children who all had flouride drops when they were little and now have adult children who all have never had a cavity. I believe it works. Dentists would be putting themselves out of business if they perscibed flouride drops for their young patients. Think about that?
Fluoride is ruining kids teeth
Fluoride exposure is rising and causing children’s tooth imperfections, ranging from white spots to brownish discolorations and pitting (fluorosis), dentist Elivir Dincer reports in the New York State Dental Journal. (1)
“Such changes in the tooth’s appearance can affect the child’s self-esteem which makes early prevention that much more critical,” writes Dincer.
Children, aged 2 to 7 years, can swallow about one-quarter milligram of fluoride with every brushing because their swallowing reflexes are not fully developed, reports Dincer.
“Children from the age of 6-months to 3-years should not have more than one-quarter milligram of fluoride per day. Brushing the teeth of a 2-year-old twice a day will expose the child to about one-half milligram, exceeding the allowable [daily] limits” [from toothpaste alone], writes Dincer.
Intentionally swallowing the toothpaste which is likely, given the pleasant flavor of children’s toothpaste, increases children’s fluorosis risk, Dincer reports.
Fluoridated water, supplements, mouth rinses and/or foods add to daily fluoride intake.
Up to 48% of children have fluorosis, with 4% moderate/severe (yellow/brown teeth), reports the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2). Fluoride over-exposure at ages 22- to 25-months can discolor the permanent two front teeth while they form under the gums.
Two-thirds of US water suppliers add fluoride chemicals to reduce tooth decay. This fluoridated water is used to make many foods and beverages. (3) “Water and processed beverages (e.g., soft drinks and fruit juices) can provide approximately 75% of a person’s fluoride intake,” according to the CDC. (4)
Mixing infant formula with fluoridated water (5), fluoride supplements (6) and foods with naturally higher fluoride levels, such as tea and ocean fish, independently increase risk of dental fluorosis. Fluoride-containing pesticide residues remain on various foods. Fluoride is also inhaled via ocean and shower mist and is in some medicines.
The adequate intake of fluoride from ALL sources to avoid moderate fluorosis (not mild white spots) according to the National Academies of Science (9) is
— 0.01 mg/day for 0 to 6-month-olds
— 0.5 mg/day for 7 through 12 months
— 0.7 mg/day for 1 to 3-year-olds
Why isn’t this information reaching the public?
In 2000, dental researcher AK Mascarenhas wrote, “There is substantial evidence that fluoridated water, fluoride supplements, infant formulas, and fluoride toothpastes are risk factors for fluorosis,” alone and together in “Risk factors for Dental Fluorosis: A review of the recent literature,” in Pediatric Dentistry, 4/22/2000.
“It’s obvious that fluoridation is dosing our children with uncontrollable and undesirable amounts of fluoride,” says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. “Besides affecting teeth, fluoride can be hazardous to your general health,” he says. “Since fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth and no child is, or ever was, fluoride deficient, it’s time we stop adding unnecessary and costly fluoride chemicals into water supplies,” says Beeber.
Over 1700 professionals joined Environmental Protection Agency scientists in calling for an end to fluoridation. (7) Join the over 11,000 individuals supporting them by signing the petition asking for a Congressional investigation at
http://congress.FluorideAction.Net or http://www.FluorideAction.Net
References:
1) “Why Do I Have White Spots on My Front Teeth,” by Elvir Dincer, DDS, New York State Dental Journal, January 2008, Page 58 Volume 74, Number 1
http://www.nysdental.org/img/current-pdf/JrnlJan2008.pdf
2) Surveillance for Dental Caries, Dental Sealants, Tooth Retention, Edentulism and Dental Fluorosis, CDC, MMWR August 2005
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/s403a1t23.gif
3) USDA National Fluoride Database of Selected
Beverages and Foods – 2004 http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Fluoride/Fluoride.html
4) US Centers for Disease Control – Enamel Fluorosis http://www.cdc.gov/FLUORIDATION/safety/enamel_fluorosis.htm
5a) US Centers for Disease Control – Infant Formula and Fluoride
http://www.cdc.gov/FLUORIDATION/safety/infant_formula.htm#12
b) Academy of General Dentistry, “Monitor Infant’s Fluoride Intake,” March 2007
http://www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1187
c) American Dental Association, “ADA offers interim guidance on infant formula and fluoride,” November 2006 http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=2212
6) American Dental Association, Evidence Based Dentistry: Systematic Reviews Fluoride Supplements
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/ebd/reviews/fluoride_supplements.asp
7) http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html
8) http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof/_pgg10.php3
9) The National Academies of Science, “Dietary Reference
Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride,:1997