Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay and makes your child's teeth stronger. Fluoride can be found in drinking water, food and beverages, toothpaste, mouth rinses and dental treatments such as fluoride varnish.
Here are some common questions you may have about how fluoride helps keep your child's teeth healthy.
Why do children need fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral that can slow or stop cavities from forming. We all have bacteria in our mouth that combines with sugars from food and drinks to make acid. The acid harms the outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel. Fluoride protects teeth from being damaged by the acid and helps rebuild tooth enamel.
That is why many communities add fluoride to the tap water. Children should drink plenty of
water and brush with toothpaste that has fluoride in it.
Is fluoride in drinking water safe for my children?
Yes. America has been preventing tooth decay with fluoridated water for over 75 years.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree that
water fluoridation is effective, safe and works to prevent tooth decay.
Fluoridation benefits people of all ages. Community water fluoridation has been shown to reduce tooth decay by 25%.
Is fluoride linked to IQ?
Fluoride in drinking water at the recommended level
has not been linked to lower IQ scores. Some studies, including from the U.S. government, have noted a possible link between
very high fluoride levels in drinking water—more than twice the level of fluoride in U.S. drinking water—and lower IQ scores in children. The findings were based on studies in non-U.S. countries where some pregnant women and children were exposed to total amounts higher than 1.5 mg of fluoride per liter of drinking water.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) continues to
recommend age-appropriate amounts of fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated water to protect children's teeth. If you live in an area or are served by a
water system without fluoridation, talk to your pediatrician about fluoride supplementation.
When should my child start using fluoride toothpaste?
The AAP recommends using a smear or grain-of-rice–sized amount of
fluoride toothpaste twice a day when the first tooth appears and until
age 3 years. A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used once they turn 3.
Teach your child to spit when they are able. They do not need to rinse their mouth with water after brushing.
What if we live in a community where the water is not fluoridated? What can we do?
Check with your local water utility or look on the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to find out if your water has fluoride in it. If it does not have fluoride or you have
well water that does not contain fluoride, ask your pediatrician or dentist if your child is at high risk for cavities. The doctor may recommend you buy fluoridated water or give you a prescription for fluoride drops or tablets for your child.
Should my child get fluoride varnish?
Yes.
Fluoride varnish is used to help prevent or slow down tooth decay. Your pediatrician or dentist can apply the varnish starting after your baby gets their
first tooth. (Try to make your baby's first dental appointment after the first tooth appears.)
The varnish is painted on the top and sides of each tooth and hardens quickly. Then, it is brushed off by parents at home after 4 to 12 hours. It is recommended that children have varnish applied 2 to 4 times per year until they are
5 years old.
What should I know about fluoride if I am breastfeeding or using infant formula?
When they are younger than 6 months old,
breastfed babies and babies fed infant formula do not need fluoride supplements or formula mixed with water that is fluoridated. It is safe to use fluoridated water to mix the
formula if your baby is younger than 6 months old, but there is a small risk of "fluorosis." (See more details, below.) Ask your pediatrician or dentist if you need more advice.
If you prefer not to use fluoridated water with formula before your baby's first tooth emerges, you can:
What is dental fluorosis, and will fluoridated water mixed with infant formula increase the risk?
Fluorosis usually appears as very faint white streaks on the teeth. Often it is only noticeable by a dental expert during an exam. Mild fluorosis is not painful and does not affect the function or health of the teeth.
Although using fluoridated water to prepare infant formula might increase the risk of dental fluorosis, most cases are mild.
Once your child's adult teeth come in (usually around
age 8), the risk of developing fluorosis is over.
Should pregnant people switch to bottled water?
Unless there are concerns about tap water contamination, bottled water is not preferred to tap water during pregnancy. Bottled water may or may not contain fluoride. The amount of fluoride contained in bottled water is not required to be listed unless the label makes a claim about the product's fluoride content.
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