Keeping kids' teeth healthy requires more than just daily brushing. During a routine well-child examination, you will be surprised to examines your child's teeth and ask you about your water supply to find the doctor. This is because fluoride, a substance that is found naturally in water, plays an important role in healthy tooth development and cavity prevention.
About Fluoride
Fluoride exists naturally in water sources and is derived from fluorine, the thirteenth most abundant element in the earth's crust. It is known that fluoride prevents and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay.
Decay occurs when plaque - that sticky film of bacteria that accumulates on teeth - breaks down sugars in the diet. The bacteria produce damaging acids that dissolve the hard enamel surfaces of the teeth.
If the damage is not stopped or treated, the bacteria can penetrate through the enamel and cause tooth decay (also called dental cavities or dental caries). Voids weaken teeth and can lead to pain, tooth loss, or even widespread infection in the most severe cases.
Fluoride combats tooth decay in two ways:
It will develop in the structure of the teeth if it is swallowed added.
It protects the teeth when coming into contact with the surface of the teeth.
Fluoride prevented that the acid produced by the bacteria in the plaque by dissolving or desalination, enamel, the hard and glossy substance that protects the teeth. Fluoride also allows teeth damaged by acid to repair, or remineralize, themselves. Fluoride can not repair cavities, but it can reverse low levels of tooth decay and thus prevent new cavities from forming.
Despite the good news about the health of the teeth, tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases in childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
more than 25% of 2 - to 5-year-olds have one or more cavities
Half of children 12 to 15 years old have one or more cavities
Caries affects two-thirds of 16 - to 19-year-olds
Fluoride and Water Supply
For over 60 years, water fluoridation has proved to be a safe and inexpensive way to reduce tooth decay. Today, water fluoridation is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20% -40%.
As of 2002, the statistics show that CDC, almost 60% of the U.S. population receives fluoridated water through the taps in their homes. Some communities have naturally occurring fluoride in their water, others add it at water treatment plants.
Your doctor or dentist may know whether local water supplies contain optimal levels of fluoride, between 0.7 and 1.2 ppm (parts per million fluoride parts water). If your water comes from a public system, you can also contact your local water authority or health department, or check online at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) database of local water safety reports.
If you use well water or water from a private source, the amount of fluoride should be checked by a laboratory or public health department.
Some parents buy bottled water for their children, instead of drinking tap water. Most bottled water lacks fluoride, but fluorinated bottled water is now available. If fluoride is added, the manufacturer will be required to list the amount. If fluoride concentration greater than 0.6 ppm to 1.0 ppm, you may see the health claim "Drinking fluoridated water may reduce the risk of tooth decay" on the label.
The controversy over fluoride
The opponents of water fluoridation have demonstrated its safety and effectiveness in question, but there is little evidence to support these concerns.
Scientific research continues to support the benefits of fluoride when it comes to the prevention of caries and its safety at current recommended levels of 0.7 to 1.2 ppm. Dramatic reductions in caries in the last 30 years is attributable to fluoridation of the water supply, and the parents and health professionals should continue to ensure that children receive to prevent sufficient fluoride, cavities.
The American Dental Association (ADA), the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), the American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), among many other national and international organizations that support community water fluoridation. The CDC recognized fluoridation of water as one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th Century.
Kids' fluoride Needs
So, how much fluoride can take children? In general, children do supplements under the age of 6 months do not need fluoride. Your child's 6-month study provides a great opportunity to discuss fluoride supplementation with your doctor. If you live in an area nonfluoridated, your doctor or dentist can prescribe fluoride drops, tablets, vitamins, or after your baby is 6 months old.
The AAP recommends that these fluoride supplements be given daily to children from 6 months of age to 16 years. The dosage depends on how much fluoride naturally present in the water and the age of the child. Only children living in areas nonfluoridated or those who just nonfluoridated to drink bottled water should receive supplements.
What about toothpastes, mouthwashes and other products that contain fluoride? Here are a few tips:
Parents can brush your baby's teeth as they come with a baby toothbrush with water with only a smear of toothpaste up to 2 years.
Children younger than 6 may swallow too much toothpaste when brushing your teeth, so should be supervised when brushing and taught to spit, not swallow, will toothpaste.
Children over 2 years, you should use a fluoride containing toothpaste that carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
Children should only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Children under 6 years of age should never fluoridated mouthwashes. However, older children can benefit at high risk for tooth decay from use. Your dentist can talk to regularly and thoroughly with you about risk factors such as a family history of dental disease, recent periodontal surgery or an illness or a physical disability brushes.
Your family dentist or pediatric dentist (one who specializes in the care of children's teeth) is a great resource for information about dental care and fluoride needs. A dentist can help you better understand how fluoride affects the teeth and may even recommend the use of topical fluoride varnish during routine dental visits.
Fluoride overexposure
If some fluoride is good, why do not more fluoride better? Too much can be harmful, as with most medications, including vitamins and minerals. Most children get the right amount of fluoride through a combination of fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridated water or supplements.
Too much fluoride 8 years ago, a time when the teeth are developing, Schmelzfluorose, discoloration or mottling of the permanent teeth can. For most of the changes are subtle. In one study, 94% of identified fluorosis cases were very mild to mild. Most cases are caused by improper use of fluoride-containing dental products, including toothpaste and mouthwash. Sometimes children take daily fluoride can be added, but always enough fluoride from other sources, which also puts them at risk.
Recently, the National Research Council found naturally occurring fluoride levels, the optimal values are used in community fluoridation programs (0.7 to 1.2 ppm) is exceeded by children under 8 years at risk for severe Schmelzfluorose. The CDC recommends that in communities where natural fluoride levels are greater than 2 ppm, parents should give children water from other sources.
The ADA also recognizes that children need less fluoride than older children and adults. Some children may always used too much fluoride in the water to reconstruct infant formula. If you are concerned that your child can always have too much fluoride, tell your doctor or dentist can recommend the ready-to-feed or formula reconstituted with fluoride-free or low-fluoride water.
Very rarely fluoride toxicity occur if large quantities of fluoride taken during a short period. Children under 6 years accounted for more than 80% over the reports of suspected ingestion. Although the results are not usually serious, fluoride toxicity sends several hundred children in the emergency room each year.
Symptoms of fluoride toxicity can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased salivation, or increased thirst. Symptoms begin 30 minutes after ingestion and can last up to 24 hours. If you suspect that your child may have eaten a considerable amount of a fluoride-containing product or supplement, call the poison control center or 911
Be sure, toothpaste, supplements, mouth rinses and other fluoride-containing products keep from children's reach or in a locked cabinet. You should also monitor your young child toothbrushing sessions to prevent swallowing of toothpaste or other fluoridated products.
If you have questions about your water fluoride content, the fluoridated products your child uses, or if your child receives too much or too little fluoride have, talk to your doctor or dentist.