Giving inants fluoride?

Lisa - posted on 03/13/2010

I totally understand how you feel. I felt the same way and refused to give it to both of my kids. Now I regret it. My 6 year old has major teeth problems. He has a very healthy diet. No candy, or things that are considered bad for his teeth. I am extremely strict about cleaning his teeth as well. He just has bad teeth. Over the last 2 years, he has had, 11 cavities, 3 baby root canals, and a tooth extracted. The dentist says it's genetics. I keep thinking if I had given him the fluoride maybe we wouldn't be in this situation.

LaCi - posted on 03/12/2010

I didn't have fluoride in my water as a child, until I was 5 at least, we were also on well water. I did have cavities much much later in a couple primary molars, which were pulled and then my new ones came in anyway, but no other problems. I can't even necessarily attribute the cavities to a lack of fluoride, Maybe I was just a dirty kid who didn't brush enough. :D If you want a second opinion, go for it. I give my son bottled water most of the time, fluoride free toothpaste, but the amount of water he ends up drinking from the tub spout is probably enough to give him his RDA of fluoride.

Gwen - posted on 03/12/2010

90% municipalities in the US already have flouride in the water. For the other 10% of us, the drops prescribed by the doctor will greatly benefit your child. My mother has worked in dentist office for 38 years and can testify to the positive difference she sees in children who have been given flouride vs. those who have not.

Nikki - posted on 03/11/2010

That's strange that a doctor would prescribe that? As long as you are not giving your son juice to drink and sugary treats you shouldn't need it, once they start using toothpaste twice a day there is enough fluoride to protect his teeth. To much fluoride can actually discolour teeth and cause stomach problems, the only reason they put it into water is because so many people dont brush and care for their teeth enough. The other thing you can do to protect your bubs teeth is ensure he has a drink of water after he has finished each meal, as he gets older try and teach him to swish it around his mouth. This combined with brushing his little teeth in warm water should be more than enough to protect them. As he gets older, and even importantly for adults always choose the softest toothbrush and gently brush is teeth, so many people scrub their teeth with hard brushes thinking it it going to clean them better but it actually wears the enamel off your teeth.

Jocelyn - posted on 03/11/2010

Personally I wouldn't give him any. My mom gave me extra fluoride when I was little and because of that my teeth are stained (they are off white, with almost translucent splotches). There is no need to add fluoride. Fluoride is found in many random things that we eat daily; I can't remember exactly what the study found, but the average person consumes something like 50% more fluoride than is recommended on a daily basis.

Iridescent - posted on 03/11/2010

The only real risk is discoloration of the teeth NOT erupted yet (baby teeth not through, and all permanent teeth. It is beneficial in regards to developing stronger teeth, but it appears only minimally so.

http://www.cdc.gov/FLUORIDATION/safety/i...