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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
I was looking up flouride for my own benefit, and thought I'd share in case anyone is interested. I found this on the Family Education website.
There is currently a lot of controversy within the medical and dental communities about fluoride supplementation. The standard recommendation for the past five years has been that infants who do not get fluoride from their tap water should be supplemented with fluoride starting at six months of age (I don't know why your pediatrician is recommending it now, but four months is too early to start).
It has been clearly demonstrated that fluoride prevents cavities in the teeth of children, and there has been a remarkable decline in the number of cavities in children in this country since tap water has been fluoridated and fluoride toothpaste has been introduced. The issue is whether or not kids should get supplemented before they are exposed to tap water and toothpaste. It was initially believed that there was a benefit to having fluoride present even before the teeth erupt. But recent studies have suggested that there isn't any benefit until after the teeth are visible.
The other issue is the effect of taking too much fluoride. While this doesn't harm the teeth in any mechanical way, it can cause an unsightly white stain on the teeth that is difficult to cover up. Children who both drink fluoridated tap water and take fluoride supplements have had an increased incidence of this problem, which is know as fluorosis.
There have been calls within the medical and dental communities to retract the current recommendation to supplement infants or young children with fluoride. Given the current use of fluoridated water as well as fluoride toothpaste and dental rinses, most children are expected to get enough fluoride at the proper time to continue to help prevent the development of cavities. As of this time, there has been no formal change in the recommendations that the American Academy of Pediatrics gives about fluoride, but this is likely to change.
Make sure you understand how to properly care for your child's teeth once they have come in. Your pediatrician can review this for you at your next visit, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling a child's first dentist visit within 6 months of the appearance of the first tooth, or by 12 months of age.
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Posted 1/25/08 9:58 PM  |
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purplegirl
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Member since 5/06 2423 total posts
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
Thanks for posting--now I don't know what to do... the doctor gave DD a prescription for flouride but we haven't given it to DD yet.
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| Posted 1/25/08 10:01 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
Posted by purplegirl
Thanks for posting--now I don't know what to do... the doctor gave DD a prescription for flouride but we haven't given it to DD yet.
I usually just follow my doctor. Maybe ask him/her about it. I give DS tap water, so I'm not worried that he hasn't been given flouride.
ETS: I wanted to clarify what I wrote above. Maybe ask the doc if they feel strongly that it is something your DD needs or if it is just standard that they prescribe flouride.
Message edited 1/25/2008 10:04:16 PM.
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| Posted 1/25/08 10:02 PM |
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DebG
Pick a cause & stand up for it
Member since 5/05 18602 total posts
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The cure IS worse!
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
Humn, our doc did have us on a supplement since we weren't using tap (Ever taste tap water in FL? Blah!) But the visit we started putting him on filtered water.
I go to my dentist often (been there three times) and we have talked about Joseph but he didn't say to bring him in yet. Now I am nervous cause JAG has 6 or 7 teeth and we haven't been there yet. Humn, will ask next time I guess.
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| Posted 1/25/08 10:13 PM |
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Laura-DDS
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/07 840 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
Fluoride is usually not recommended for children under 6 mo of age.
After 6 mo if you live in an area that is "non-fluoridated" (i.e. less than 0.3ppm in the water supply) the child would typically be dosed with a supplement in their vitamin of .25mg/day until the age of 3 then the dose would again be increased. My dr did prescribe us a vitamin with fluoride however I happen to live in a fluoridated area which he did not realize as his practice is on LI in a non-fluoridated area so I made him aware as to why I would not use that vitamin. (good thing I am a dentist!) Anyway the moral of the story is check your area and make sure you know what the water supply is. Dr's can make mistakes no one is perfec,t but if you have it in the water and are using a supplement you can damage a childs teeth with too much fluoride and too little can lead to cavities but I would not recommend starting prior to 6 months of age if you are going to use a supplement.
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| Posted 1/25/08 11:11 PM |
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
How do u know exactly if you are in a fluoridated area? I give my daughter Poland Spring water, I guess this doesn't have fluoride, right?
Message edited 1/26/2008 12:52:18 AM.
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| Posted 1/26/08 12:51 AM |
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ckdk
My girls
Member since 5/05 7027 total posts
Name:
Cheryl
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
Posted by JessicaluvsCharles
How do u know exactly if you are in a fluoridated area? I give my daughter Poland Spring water, I guess this doesn't have fluoride, right?
right, there is no flouride in Poland Spring, that's what my DD drinks so I give her the flouridated vitamins...
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| Posted 1/26/08 7:18 AM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
Thank you so much, Laura, for clearing it up for us. 
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| Posted 1/26/08 10:51 AM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Spinoff to viatmins - flouride
Although I agree with a lot of this, I want to add something that was omitted. Fluorosis can not only lead to stains, but to weak and chipping enamel and pits in teeth. It is VERY unusual that this happens, but for someone like me who has a poor family history, it is a real issue.
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| Posted 1/26/08 10:57 AM |
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