should i give fluoride drops to my 17 month old?

Ravi - posted on 09/20/2012

NO NO NO - Floride is an industrial poison - a toxin that has NO good proof of anything but florosis (damage to the teeth) and it is a serious serious toxic substance (ever look on a floride toothpaste label warning??) do not give floride to your child please!



want to really get your childs teeth healthy? then you must must must change your childs diet - dental health is seriously impacted by the foods we eat - google (cut and paste)"The “Teeth-Rotting Diet” – It’s What’s For YOUR Lunch?" (http://daiasolgaia.com/?p=2826) and get some real info on changing your overall health--



and here: Healing Tooth Decay: Cod Liver Oil/Butter, Xylitol, Spry Gel & Tooth Powder http://daiasolgaia.com/?p=74



good health to you and your families!

Sarah - posted on 08/23/2012

I was against it too - my dad is a doctor and he recommended the drops from day one, since we are on well water. However, I knew there were good reasons not to and felt confident that little bits of toothpaste on emerging teeth would do the job. However, my daughter is now 19 months old and has been diagnosed with Early Childhood Caries (ECC). She may lose her four top front teeth. She was drinking diluted juice (50/50) all day and night from a sippy cup, sometimes going through four cups of the watered down juice a day! She's still breastfeeding and nurses through the night to varying degrees.



Anyway, I am devastated that she might lose her teeth. I blame the juice - I should have only given her pure water in a sippy cup and the lack of fluoride on her teeth. It was always difficult to get to her upper teeth adequately with a toothbrush - she struggled - and her bottom teeth were fine, so I brushed them but not well enough. Fluoride in the water would have helped. So would an early dental appointment. By now one of her incisors has crumbled almost to the gumline.

Amanda - posted on 08/11/2012

It's been said by dentists the only time fluoride is advantageous to dental health is when it is applied topically to our teeth. Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis of the teeth, ingesting fluoride has no benefit whatsoever. I actually bought a filter to filter out the fluoride in our water.

Kathy - posted on 08/11/2012

give them a couple times a week....instead of every day....thats what i do with my daughter, but the pediatrician actually gave her chewables. flouride was refused my parents as well on the advice from my grandmother who was a RN, and i had terrible teeth. I'm afraid not to give them a couple times a week to my kiddos.

Megan - posted on 08/05/2012

I would not do drops, Just change your child's favorites. My son is 6 1/2 and he has no enamel on the back four of his teeth. (they pushed through too fast to develop enamel). I started talking to him and reading to him about sugar bugs, teeth brushing, flossing, and food choices at about 1 1/2. Just so it starts a habit and something he knows it a forever choice. He brushes his teeth 3 times a day (once at school with a "wisp" that I pack in his lunch, and by the end of they year of his kinder year there were about 6 kids in his class at school that were brushing).

I would stop with any juice, of any kind ever. This is a family choice for no juice in the house.
We drink water all day every day, If there is ever a time we break our food choices it would be eating out. But never any soda or "foods" made with editable wax, procesed foods or fast food (with the exception of In and Out).

I married a chef so the best way I could go about making sure not to add floride drops and keep my son's mouth sugar bug free is choose this (his mouth) to be something I am a stickler about.

Something else to keep in mind, Our Ped Dent. told us that there is really a window to remember, If you can brush your teeth with in 30-60mins of eating you are making your gums the happiest you can be!

Hope this helped, good luck!

Lisa - posted on 07/31/2012

just use flouride toothpaste, just a smear. i have never heard of drops, my daughter is 2 years and 7 months, no cavities.

Selina - posted on 07/25/2012

I just took my 13 month old to the denist and asked about fluoride drops as we are on tank water. He said that taken in the correct dosage they're fine and in fact strengthen the adult teeth that will come through later. He said stay away from fruit juices (give them fruit instead) and sugary foods and clean her teeth as best as you can. I had fluoride tablets as a kid (along with my 2 brothers and sisters) and at 40 odd we're all yet to have problems with out teeth. I'm giving my daughter the drops as in the correct dose they're fine.

Christine - posted on 05/23/2012

it's very common in Europe to give fluoride tablets or drops to kids and has been for decades. I don't understand the negative research reviews. Europe is often more strict in over the counter supplements than the USA and less money driven. I use toothpaste with added fluoride for my toddler. As a kid my own elementary school provided fluor once every week for all the kids to rinse and swish with... interesting isn't it? nothing wrong with me!

Katherine - posted on 05/04/2012

No! They don't need flouride at that age. What you CAN do is take her to the dentist though. I'm shocked your ped prescribed them. Good for you for not giving them to her!

Shannon - posted on 05/03/2012

No, No, Have you water tested to see how much fluoride is in it, if any. There is enough fluoride in toothpaste( dont let her swallow the paste) and a lot of other things we drink and eat. I work in a pedo dental office and we stopped giving flouride drops because kids are getting too much fluoride. Its in everything now. I could see if she is prone to cavities but not a 6 months of age. Just make sure you keep her teeth clean and she will be fine. Too much apple juice is bad because it will cause cavities in between her teeth. That is where you cant reach with the tooth brush. Water is always best!!

Annaleigh - posted on 05/02/2012

If you are worried about cavities find Xylitol toothpaste at a health food store (or Nature's Sunshine online). Floride can cause stomach issues, among other problems so I would stay away from it. Xylitol is awesome stuff and it acutally fights the bacteria that causes tooth decay, without damage to the teeth, gums, or stomach.

Anna - posted on 05/02/2012

My dentist said there's no need for flouride until child is 2.5 - 3 as there's no plaque build-up until that age. Also, depending on where you're located, your water supply might have a sufficient amount of flouride already. I'm from NY and we have enough in the water plus whatever is in the toothpaste once you start using toothpaste with flouride at age 2.5 - 3 so no need for supplements.

Julie - posted on 05/01/2012

DO NOT!!!

Google 'fluoride drops' and compare the number of articles on its poisonous effects vs. its beneficial effects!

Linda - posted on 04/29/2012

Also there is a small amount of natural fluoride that can be found in all ground water but the fluoride that is supplemented into mains water supplies is fluoride produced as a by product from a type of industrial production (sorry can't remember what type of production).

Linda - posted on 04/29/2012

I don't think you need to give her the drops. My middle daughter made it a major struggle to brush her teeth until she was about 2yrs old. She went for her first dentist appointment at 4yr and she had great teeth no cavities (which I was also worried about like you). I have always made my daughters alternate juice/cordial and water. All our drinking water is filtered water or rain water. I have always remembered my chemistry teacher telling us in high school that fluoride is a poison and should not be put in the water supply and if having any the amount in toothpaste is enough therefore I try to stick to just fluoride tooth paste with myself and my children (we all have good teeth). So as long as you brush her teeth regularly she should be fine and if you wish to be more cautious get her to have a drink of water after sweet food or meals to help rinse the mouth/teeth.

Christina - posted on 04/29/2012

Fluoride is not good for you. Doing research is the best way. Use your gut feeling and stick with it. My husband did some research on the fluoride and we now use organic toothpaste.

Ally - posted on 04/29/2012

Personally I would never give my kids a flouride supplement...I don't even let them use tooth paste with flouride and limit tap water as much as possible.
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September - posted on 04/25/2012

This is true :)

Medic - posted on 04/25/2012

awesome!!! It is hard to tell how we mean things sometimes seeing as it is all written.

September - posted on 04/25/2012

Not my intention however thanks for pointing that out, I've edited it.

Medic - posted on 04/25/2012

I was just pointing that out, from the way that it was written it seemed like a blanket statement.

September - posted on 04/25/2012

I do realize that Medic I guess I should have been more clear when suggesting tap water. Also well water can have fluoride in it depending on where you live. I grew up with well water which my parents had tested and it had fluoride in it.

Medic - posted on 04/25/2012

@ September- Not all tap water has flouride in it. That is something that varies place to place and as the OP stated they have well water, which does not have flouride.

To the OP- I would not use the drops, I would just use a childrens toothpaste with a little in it.
Here our tap has flouride in it so they do not recomend using toothpaste on the kids until they are about 4. Before that they just recomend using water.

Kierstin - posted on 04/24/2012

We give our kids tri-vitamin and multi-vitamin drops nightly and our oldest a chewable pill that all contain flouride since our drinking water does not contain flouride due to our water softener. In excess it would be very harmful to them but the recommended dose is fine. We do use flouride toothpaste and brush well but we were having some problems with our oldest daughter's teeth and found out why when we had our water tested. So far so good!

September - posted on 04/24/2012

Personally I would not use the drops. The only time our son get’s fluoride is when he brushes his teeth and when he goes to the dentist. If she is able to spit the toothpaste out when you brush her teeth then just be sure the toothpaste has fluoride in it. Also tap water has fluoride in it as well (depending on where you live) so you could offer that too from time to time. I would cut back on the fruit juice and maybe add a piece of fresh fruit to her water since fruit juice is high in sugar. You could also make homemade juice or smoothies to replace store bough juice. Our son loves homemade juice and its fun to make. Also it's important to both brush at night and in the morning.

Katie - posted on 04/24/2012

I actually went to a toddler baby teeth hygien class today at a Dental Clinic. And The dentist there explained to us about floride.

Here where I live, the water is floride free and ALOT of bottled waters are floride free as well.
Toddler teeth do need SOME floride, but not much. Since we don't have floride in our water she told us to nrush our babies teeth, not with baby toddler toothpaste that is floride free, but with children's toothpaste but just a small layer on the bristles.

She then cleaned our toddlers teeth and put a small coat of floride on our little ones teeth. Idk... In excess it cam be dangerous, but is needed but in extreme small amounts. :)

Tomara - posted on 04/23/2012

Good job floride is poison! Try miswak it's a tree that is used to clean teeth and it works wonders. Just google it!

Amanda - posted on 04/23/2012

I didn't give my son those drops and he paid for it. He was put under to get his two back teeth on either side top and bottom and had his teeth filed down. He was three. The dentist told me to use fluoride tooth paste. You can't get away from sugar or other things that harm their teeth. Even some waters have sugar in it. They don't list it but it is in there. There is nothing wrong with fluoride. Me and my brother both had it when were kids in the drinking water and we are both fine. My parents had it in the water, at school and in their toothpaste and they are fine. If the doctor gave them to you they are worried. My doctor was worried about his teeth thats why she made me go see a dentist and start using fluoride till we saw him. They know what it does but in the long run you really don't want to see your kid put under to fix teeth. It isn't fun. I brushed my son's teeth three times a day with a teeth cleaner and the dentist says he has never liked them. He told me if I have anymore kids to use fluoride tooth every four days when the teeth start to come in. It is the only thing out there to protect their teeth. The enamel on baby teeth is very thin and fruit not only has sugar but acids that erode the teeth too. If you were told to do you should go back and discuss why they want you to use it and the pros and cons of it. Don't ask us ask the person that told you to use it. Cause if I could go back and change my choice I would.

Kristy - posted on 04/23/2012

Thanks Heather:) That makes me feel so much better. Her first dentist appt is coming up and I was stressing out. I really don't want to give her the drops. So I'll just make sure to keep her teeth clean. thanks!

Heather - posted on 04/23/2012

She will be fine. Don't give her fluoride drops, just brush her teeth once or twice a day. My son had tons of sugar when he was little and I just kept his teeth clean morning and night. He has had no cavities and he is now 4 1/2. She will be fine.

Kristy - posted on 04/23/2012

thanks Louise! i wonder if the drinking water helped your boy's teeth? We have well water, though she doesn't drink that. She gets bottled water. I will definitely keep up with the brushing. I use the toddler Orajel toothpaste.

Louise - posted on 04/23/2012

Neither of my sons had any cavaties when they were kids and they had a very sweet tooth. My sons are 21 and 18 and yet to have any fillings. When they were small there was no such thing as sugar free anything. I now have a three year old that drinks mainly apple juice all day and loves soft suidgey jelly sweets. As long as you clean their teeth with a good brand toothpaste there is no need for flouride drops. In the uk flouride is added to the drinking water so to give drops as well would be dangerous.