Fluoride is an substance, that has been proven to be extremely beneficial to teeth. However, the correct balance of Fluoride is important to your child’s teeth. To little Fluoride will not help in lowering the risk of cavities. To much Fluoride can cause what’s called dental fluorosis that will leave your child’s teeth a brown color. Most children receive enough, if not to much fluoride unbeknown to their parents. It’s important as a parent to understand your child’s Fluoride resources in order to keep the right balance for you child’s dental health.

One major problem is children younger than three have trouble spitting out their toothpaste which contains Fluoride. This usually results in your child swallowing to much Fluoride which not good for their health. Toothpaste ingestion during this important period of your child’s tooth development leaves them at high risk of development of fluorosis. To many supplements of fluoride may also cause fluorosis. Fluoride tablets and drops should not be given to a child younger than six months old.  After six months old, be sure to consult with your dentist and your doctor for instruction on when and how to give your child fluoride supplements. In may cases, fluoride supplements are not needed.

Some food that contain high levels of fluoride are powdered concentrate infant formula, soy-based infant formula, infant dry cereals, creamed spinach, and infant chicken products. It’s important for parents to read the label or contact the manufacturer if they have any questions or concerns about fluoride in these products. Make yourself aware of beverages that contain high levels of fluoride, especially decaffeinated teas, white grape juices, and juice drinks manufactured in fluoridated cities.

Use these tips to decrease the risk of fluorosis in your child’s teeth:

Use baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrush of the very young child.
Place only a pea sized drop of children’s toothpaste on the brush when brushing.
Account for all of the sources of ingested fluoride before requesting fluoride supplements from your child’s physician or pediatric dentist.
Avoid giving any fluoride-containing supplements to infants until they are at least 6 months old.
Obtain fluoride level test results for your drinking water before giving fluoride supplements to your child (check with local water utilities).