Moms of toddlers (and older)...talk to me about flouride...

Thoughts?

Ped gave us yet another rx for flouride pills. Can't decide if I want to give them to DD or not.

She brushes her teeth 2x a day with a flouride toothpaste.

Message edited 12/8/2009 1:47:54 PM.

Re: Moms of toddlers (and older)...talk to me about flouride...

the flouride in the toothpaste ant hte flouride vitamins are absorbed/used different ways. the flouride in the toothpaste is topical- meaning it basically really only helps the teeth already in the mouth. the flouride in the vitamins is systemic- it gets absorbed into the childs bones, and developing teeth- her ADLUT teeth, which are already starting to devlop now.
the american academy of dentristry recommends flouride supplemenation in all non-flouridated areas from age 6 months on. Nassau county is definitly non-flouridated, not sure aobut suffolk. flouride is probably the single most improtant factor in reducing cavities. that being said, you are worried about flourosis- overexposure to flouride, which can lead to brown and/or white spots on a child's adult teeth. you have the weigh the risks/benefits yourself.
ME personally, i give vitamins 2-3x a week. not more, sometimes less if i forget, but i try to do it 2-3x a week.

Re: Moms of toddlers (and older)...talk to me about flouride...

FM

Re: Moms of toddlers (and older)...talk to me about flouride...

C's vitamin has flouride in it (still the liquid one she started at 1 year, she loves it still); but we use non-flouride toothpaste for her.

Re: Moms of toddlers (and older)...talk to me about flouride...

DS is 2. His vitamins have fluoride in them (he still uses drops). We don't use fluoride toothpaste yet, he still eats it and doesn't get rinsing, so no fluoride toothpaste until he gets this.

Re: Moms of toddlers (and older)...talk to me about flouride...