Fluoride In Water: Are Kids Getting Too Much?

Could your youngster be getting too much fluoride? U.S. health officials think some young kids might be. They want to change the recommended levels of fluoride in drinking water, primarily to prevent a condition called fluorosis.

Some questions and answers:

Q: What is fluorosis?

A: It's a dental condition that can result from consuming too much of the mineral fluoride. It mostly results in tiny white flecks or streaks on teeth. In extreme cases, it causes discoloration and pitting of the tooth enamel.

Q: Who can get it?

A: Only children under 8. That's when permanent teeth are developing under the gums. Once those teeth emerge, the enamel is no longer susceptible to fluorosis.

Q: Is it serious?

A: In most cases, no. The majority of cases are mild, and barely noticeable. But it has become more common. An estimated 41 percent of kids 12 to 15 have it. It's a cosmetic condition and can be treated with whitening or other procedures.

Q: How do you get too much fluoride?

A: Water, soft drinks and juices are the main source of fluoride in the United States, according to health officials. Some water supplies contain natural fluoride; it's added to the drinking water in many communities to prevent tooth decay. Other sources are toothpaste, mouthwashes, gels and supplements.

Q: Are there ways to prevent fluorosis?

A: Read the toothpaste label and limit the amount of toothpaste used by kids under 6. They should only use a pea-sized amount. Watch them brush and make sure they spit out the toothpaste – not swallow it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends consulting a dentist before using fluoride toothpaste for a child younger than 2.

Check the fluoride level in your water supply. Public water systems are required to provide annual reports that include fluoride levels. Check their website or the CDC's My Water's Fluoride at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp

Health officials say if the level is above 2 milligrams per liter, consider other sources of drinking water for young children. If there isn't enough, fluoride supplements might be considered.

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Online:

CDC: http://tinyurl.com/2ep8743

Fluorosis: http://tinyurl.com/fluorosis

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Online:

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp

http://tinyurl.com/2ep8743

http://tinyurl.com/fluorosis

Comments

[Nys Cof]

08:59 AM on 01/28/2011

"Current evidence strongly suggests that fluorides work primarily by
topical means through direct action on the teeth and dental plaque.
Thus ingestion of fluoride is not essential for caries (cavity)
prevention," (Warren & Levy Dental Clinics of North
America 2003)

"There has been an increase in the prevalence of fluorosis," reports
Steven Levy, DDS, University of Iowa, J Canadian Dental Association. "With more severe forms of fluorosis, caries risk
increases because of pitting and loss of the outer enamel," writes
Levy.

"There is no specific nutritional requirement for fluoride...given the
increased prevalence of fluorosis, it may be necessary to revise
downward the adequate intake levels for fluoride," write Levy and
Warren.

"The optimal level of fluoride intake is not known with certainty," writes Levy.

"Total fluoride intake is the true fluorosis risk factor However, this
is very difficult to quantify," writes Levy who found:

77% of soft drinks had fluoride levels greater than 0.60 ppm

Two ounces daily baby chicken food provides their maximum dose

Children's specially-flavored toothpaste increases fluoride
ingestion

Soy-based infant formulas deliver more fluoride than milk-based

Other foods high in fluoride are teas, dry infant cereals, dried
chicken, fish and seafood products

Fluoridated water added to powdered concentrate ups fluorosis risk

Grape juices, especially white, contain very high fluoride levels

42% of all tested juices and juice drinks had fluoride levels
greater than 0.6 ppm

Cereals processed in a fluoridated area contained from 3.8 to 6.3
ppm fluoride

[Nys Cof]

06:41 AM on 01/14/2011

More than 3,260 professionals (including over 290 dentists) urge the US Congress to stop water fluoridation citing scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html

Also, eleven Environmental Protection Agency employee unions representing over 7000 environmental and public health professionals called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country, and have asked EPA management to recognize fluoride as posing a serious risk of causing cancer in people.

The CDC reports that 225 less communities adjusted for fluoride between 2006 and 2008. Approximately, 90 US communities rejected fluoridation since 2008. New York State communities that stopped or rejected fluoridation include: Levittown, Canton, Corning, Johnstown, Oneida, Carle Place, Rockland County, Suffolk County, Western Nassau County, Albany, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Central Bridge Water District, Homer, Ithaca, and Amsterdam. New York City Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr is introducing legislation to stop fluoridation in New York City.

The Fluoride Action Network is working with Dr. Mercola to educate legislators and the media about the health hazards associated with water fluoridation which isn't revealed to them by those lobbying in favor of fluoridation: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/03/paul-connett-interview.aspx

[ddanimal]

11:11 AM on 01/09/2011

Serum Fluoride Level and Children's Intelligence Quotient in Two Villages in China

ABSTRACT

Human studies have indicated an association between high levels of drinking-water fluoride and lower intelligence.

This study was conducted to assess the relationship between serum fluoride and children’s IQ.

Methods: We collected blood samples from 512 children 8-13 years from two villages (Wamiao and Xinhuai) in China.

Results: In Wamiao, the mean (± SD) concentration of fluoride in serum was 0.081± 0.019 mg/L, and average children’s IQ was 92.02 ± 13.00; in Xinhuai, fluoride concentration was 0.041 ± 0.009 mg/L and average IQ was 100.41 ± 13.21. The regression coefficients between serum fluoride and children’s IQ were –0.163 (p = 0.015) in Wiamiao, and 0.054 (p = 0.362) in Xinhuai. Serum fluoride levels were negatively associated with IQ after adjusted for age and sex, the ORs for IQ < 80 across groups with serum fluoride measuring < 0.05, 0.05–0.08, > 0.08 mg/L were 1, 2.22 (95% confidence interval: 1.42–3.47), and 2.48 (95% confidence interval: 1.85–3.32) (p for trend < 0.001) respectively. IQ was not related to family income and parent’s education level. There was a significant positive relation between serum fluoride and drinking-water fluoride.

Conclusions: The results indicated that fluoride in drinking water was highly correlated with serum fluoride, and higher fluoride exposure may affect intelligence among children.

[shthar]

07:40 PM on 01/07/2011

I'm sure the fluoride is safe.

It's not as if they warn you not to swallow it when you get the extra strong fluoride tooth paste at the dentist.