Fluoride Supplementation in Children

IMO tooth decay is hereditary and fluoride treatments have little effect. I think that the toxicity is far greater risk than the potential benefit. GL!

I have horrible teeth and flouride didn't help them at all. If your child gets your tooth genes then they will have your teeth. I have had heard dentists tell patients they never have to brush their teeth again and they would never get a cavity. Then I have also heard them say only good dental care will help others, no matter how much they brush. It's all genetics. If tooth enamal is hard then cabities have less chance of forming. If it's thin like mine then it's an uphill battle.

We only use Nursery water from Wal-Mart in formula and never let them use toothpaste with flouride until they have a very good understanding of spitting it out instead of swallowing.

My advice is:
Take your kids to a good Pediatric Dentist. He will clean their teeth and put the needed treatments on. James was 20 months the first time we took him to Dr. Lee in OKC. He loves it.

Too much flouride can cause flourosis. I think your son is fine. Unless of course, he drinks/eats all of the supplement or a tube of toothpaste. There usually isn't enough flouride in drinking water so doctors usually advise a supplement. I think a symptom of flourosis is white spots on the teeth.

If you are on well water, or some other source without fluoride, then fluoride supplementation seems a good thing to me. I think it is only dangerous in higher doses. If you get fluoride in city water, then I don't think you need to supplement, and I would change doctors, myself.

Yes I agree that you must avoid flouride supplementation. I don't even use toothpaste with it! The best care for teeth is good healthy diets that are alkaline, containing plenty of (5-7 servings per day) of fruits and veggies, whole grains and lean proteins. Avoid any sugar except for occasional special treats. Brush teeth twice daily. Floss and rinse with 1/2 hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 water. My children had no flouride supplements, and ate healthy organic food and have very few fillings. No crowns and both are 30 plus now years old. There has bee controversy over flouride for years, but nutritional experts all conclude that it is so easy to overdose that is is dangerous.
B. S. RN CCM

I think a lot of it depends on your local water system and how much water your child drinks. My children's dentist told me that years ago when we were children, city tap water systems were not fluoridated and fluoride supplements were needed. Now most cities do add fluoride to the tap water and it is plenty and does not need supplemented. I would find out if your city water is fluoridated and go from there.

I have heard that floride is a by product of processing alluminum. Since Floride has been added to the water cancer has increased and so has Alzheimers disease. I also heard that only as a topical treatment does floride do any good for preventing cavities. If it is in the water, when a child drinks, they are getting some on their teeth, so they may have fewer cavities, but most of it goes into their stomach to slowly poison them. Drinking floride does no good at all and is actually a poison. Why do you think they say not to swallow toothpaste which has floride. I refuse to drink tap water with floride in it. I run it through a purifier before I will drink it.

Because I breast fed my daughter recieved fluride as an infant, she has good teeth and have not had any other problems, her dentist has had her use at night only a prescription fluride toothpaste again no problems. She is now 16 and fine

It really depends on your local water supply. Fluorosis is usually only a problem if the water supply has an adequate amount of flouride in it and you are supplementing on top of that. Your doctor should know these things, but you can always contact the water department to find out exactly what is in your water. If you are on well water there should be no flouride in it.

As I child I did not have any flouride suppliments, plus I grew up on well water. I did not have cavities until my 20's. That is because beginning at age 17-18 yrs I did not properly care for my teeth nor eat healthy foods. As a child my mother ensure I ate properly and had little sugar. With my child, now 4 yrs, I choose not to use flouride suppliments as the doctor could not give me good data showing its benefit. Also our town did not add it to the water. She currently has beautiful white cavity-free teeth. But then I am hoping the she has inherited my enamal as her dad has the opposite of mine - mouth full of cavaties. I am currently convinced that it is diet and care that are most beneficial, as well as genetics.

My daughter has taken floride for years as our water is supplied by a well with no floride supplementation that people get from city water. We have seen no ill effects, and she takes a very small dose, and will continue to do so until she is 16. THe dentist I spoke with was very convincing as his practice had dealt with rural living families as well as city water dringkes who had access to the floride and he said he was amazed at the better dental health that supplimental floride provided, he had photos and statistics....It was not pretty for the non floride people. It is a vital nutriant but needs to be given int he correct dosage!