Flouride for babies what do you think?

[ArielRae]

Just back from my DS's Pediatrican and she wrote a perscription for flouride drops. I haven't been giving DS any flouride water but the doctor recommends it. I have read some negative things about giving flouride to babies. What do you think?

 

[kirbydog48]

Just back from my DS's Pediatrican and she wrote a perscription for flouride drops. I haven't been giving DS any flouride water but the doctor recommends it. I have read some negative things about giving flouride to babies. What do you think?

First of all, he is beautiful! It's such a cute age. My son is now 11 yrs old. My town doesn't flouridate the water, so we gave him drops starting when he was a baby up until about age 6. They offer flouride treatment at school, but it tasted weird so he didn't want it. Not sure about the issues with flouride, but ds has not had a cavity. I think it's a good idea, we've had no problems.

 

[Tinkermommy]

Not sure if he is drinking water yet, but you can buy bottled water called Nursery Water that has fluoride in it. That's what I used for my daughter when she drank water.

Our water system does add fluoride so I just used our municipal water with my son.

If you ever visit countries that don't use fluoride the do have dental problems!

What are the health problems you have heard of about fluoride?

 

[stichy]

Maybe check with your dentist to see what he thinks?

 

[ArielRae]

What are the health problems you have heard of about fluoride?

Just did a search on the web and read things about bone and brain development problems.

One of the sites I looked at:

http://www.safbaby.com/are-we-poisoning-our-babies-and-children-with-fluoride

 

[LMC]

If he uses tap water for formula then you should check with your water company to see if they add it. Most of them do. Too much flouride can damage the teeth. our pediatric dentist told me that if I used the tap, my kids were getting enough.

 

[ilovejack02]

We don't have fluoride in the water in our area so both my ped and dentist recommended . If you have it and give drops then you run risk of of over doing it. My child was about a year when it was given to us.

Safbaby isnt a site I would get medical advice from .

 

[Hannathy]

As an adult whose water didn't have fluoride in it when I was a child USE them!

I have had dental problems all my life. If your municipal water has it in just use that for his formula or the ready made has it in.

 

[Tinkermommy]

We don't have fluoride in the water in our area so both my ped and dentist recommended . If you have it and give drops then you run risk of of over doing it.

Safbaby isnt a site I would get medical advice from .

I took a quick look at this site and was not impressed. No real research except by the CDC which endorses fluoridation.

Yes, an overdose and overuse of fluoride can cause problems I am sure. And since your Ped prescribed it I would assume your tap water doesn't have it. I would just make sure to give the correct dosage.

 

[daughtersrus]

Just did a search on the web and read things about bone and brain development problems.

One of the sites I looked at:

http://www.safbaby.com/are-we-poisoning-our-babies-and-children-with-fluoride

Here's another site that you might want to look at.

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/yourbabyweekbyweek/ss/baby_wk_twtysix_5.htm

 

[Wishing on a star]

Flouride is a regulated TOXIN!!!!!!

We do not even drink the fluoridated tap water in this house....

The official recommendation (wish I had the link) is that infants formula NOT be mixed with fluoridated water

JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!


PS: the correct spelling is fluoride (not flouride) for searches, etc...

NOTE: I know a bit about all of this, because, come to find out, I grew up in a community was a part of all the covert 'testing' of fluoride.....
I have fluorosis/calcification on my teeth, and many health issues.... fluoride is linked to thyroid problems.. My ENTIRE family is diagnosed with Hashimoto's... Thyroid medications like Synthroid are now among the most widely prescribed drugs in this country.

 

[Hannathy]

Flouride is a regulated TOXIN!!!!!!

We do not even drink the fluoridated tap water in this house....

The official recomendation (wish I had the link) is that infants formula not be mixed with fluoridated water)

JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!

Did you grow up with no fluoride? How old are your kids? Do you eat nothing prepared anywhere else? Are you drinking bottled water? Because most of the sold bottled water is just municipal water from somewhere else that has fluoride and just bottled. Fluoride is also a naturally occurring chemical so you are probably getting it anyway.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Did you grow up with no fluoride? How old are your kids? Do you eat nothing prepared anywhere else? Are you drinking bottled water? Because most of the sold bottled water is just municipal water from somewhere else that has fluoride and just bottled. Fluoride is also a naturally occurring chemical so you are probably getting it anyway.

Hannathy, please do not even begin to try to get started with me....

I know TOO much about this issue....

I grew up OVER-fluoridated. ( please read my entire post above..... )
My family suffers the ill effects...

And, no, I will NOT consume fluoridated tap water unless absolutely necessary.... And, no, SPRING WATER, by law, is not municipal water.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I personally declined the fluoride for DD. I did oodles of research, and I just didn't feel comfortable with it. I just keep up with her oral hygiene.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids got the drops, and now take chewables, at the advice of our dentist and pediatrician. I think the difference is that we don't have flouride in our water, but can get a measured dose with supplements. When it's in the water, you run the risk of too much.

 

[Hannathy]

Fine but you are talking about OVER fluoridating which is as bad as under fluoridating there is a big Difference. No one is saying too much is good we are saying the right amount is good. I had the opposite too little so I feel as vehemently as you do.

I mean really the same could be said about iron. Too much will kill you so will too little. You have to stay within the correct dosage.

I was talking about the regular bottled water people buy.

 

[Abbie]

Just did a search on the web and read things about bone and brain development problems.

One of the sites I looked at:

http://www.safbaby.com/are-we-poisoning-our-babies-and-children-with-fluoride

Only giving anecdotal advice here:

Three kids, all with well water, all were given fluoride from infants on to about middle school age.

As far as teeth, rare cavities, all lovely white teeth, no braces (but that has nothing to do with the fluoride I guess)

As far as bone and brain development, two oldest graduated high school with a 4.0, third is going into senior year with a 4.0......all three played sports so their bones appear to be fine.

Like I said, I'm sure you can find others whose experience differs but I don't think you need to be concerned with the addition of fluoride.

It's not always a good idea to search the internet for everything, especially concerning your baby's health, unless you have a website you know to be trustworthy. Much better to listen and weigh the advice of people you trust, i.e. your pediatrician, friends, etc.

 

[Tinijocaro]

My dentist practically snickered at me when I refused flouride treatments for my kids several years ago. Last visit, they let us know that they no longer do flouride treatments due to health issues.

Flouride is toxic waste. Yes, we all get some, either in our drinking water or elsewhere, but to purposely give drops...I would not do that.

Many countries have bad teeth for many reasons-poor/non-existent dental care being the main reason.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I never did drops but my girls had the fluoride treatments when they got teeth.

In fact my 13yodd just went to the dentist and had a treatment.

What is the benefit of the drops as an infant over getting the treatments?

Seems weird to me to give fluoride drops to babies.

 

[Tinijocaro]

This is from the cdc website:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm

Children who begin using fluoride toothpaste at age <2 years are at higher risk for enamel fluorosis than children who begin later or who do not use fluoride toothpaste at all (62,63,165--170). Because studies have not used the same criteria for age of initiation, amount of toothpaste used, or frequency of toothpaste use, the specific contribution of each factor to enamel fluorosis among this age group has not been established.

Fluoride toothpaste contributes to the risk for enamel fluorosis because the swallowing reflex of children aged <6 years is not always well controlled, particularly among children aged <3 years (171,172). Children are also known to swallow toothpaste deliberately when they like its taste. A child-sized toothbrush covered with a full strip of toothpaste holds approximately 0.75--1.0 g of toothpaste, and each gram of fluoride toothpaste, as formulated in the United States, contains approximately 1.0 mg of fluoride. Children aged <6 years swallow a mean of 0.3 g of toothpaste per brushing (11) and can inadvertently swallow as much as 0.8 g (138,173--176). As a result, multiple brushings with fluoride toothpaste each day can result in ingestion of excess fluoride (177). For this reason, high-fluoride toothpaste (i.e., containing 1,500 ppm fluoride) is generally contraindicated for children aged <6 years.