Formula-fed infants receive some fluoride from their formula if the drinking water is fluoridated in their community or if it is made with bottled or well water containing fluoride. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you check with your pediatrician or pediatric dentist to find out if any additional fluoride supplements are necessary, or whether your child is already receiving the right amount.
Remember, appropriate fluoride supplementation is based on each child's unique needs. A supplement should be considered by you and your doctor until all of a child's permanent teeth are present in the mouth. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server.
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If it is fluoridated, it will say so on the label. To be sure, call the number on the label for more information. If your baby is no longer exclusively breastfeeding and is ready to be drinking water, go with fluoridated tap water if available. Begin introducing a bit of fluoridated water at the age of 6 months each day.
This can also double as practice for your little one to drink from a cup or sippy cup! If you formula feed your baby, either exclusively or after the introduction of solid foods, using fluoridated water should be just fine. If you are concerned, check in with your pediatrician about the combined levels of fluoride in your formula and tap water before selecting your water source.
As soon as teeth begin to appear, start using a very small amount of fluoride-containing tooth paste twice per day. At the age of 3, you can increase the amount of tooth paste to a pea-size, as at this time children are able to avoid swallowing during tooth brushing and spit out the excess paste.
Continue to encourage your little one to imitate you and spit, to teach good tooth brushing practices from an early age. Give your baby or toddler a fluoride supplement only if prescribed by your pediatric dentist or physician. Fluoride supplements are prescribed for children at high risk for tooth decay and whose primary drinking water has a low fluoride concentration.
However, regularly mixing powdered or liquid concentrate infant formula with fluoridated water might increase your child's risk of developing faint white lines or streaks on the teeth fluorosis if these kinds of formula are your child's main source of food.
Fluorosis is a cosmetic issue that affects both baby teeth and permanent teeth while they're forming under the gums. In young children, combined fluoride exposure from all sources contributes to fluorosis.
This includes the fluoride in fluoridated water, foods and drinks made with fluoridated water, and fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinses — especially if these products are swallowed. Fluorosis can't develop or worsen once permanent teeth break through the gums.
If you're concerned about fluorosis, consider ways to minimize your baby's exposure to fluoride. For example, you might use ready-to-feed formula, which contains little fluoride, or alternate between using fluoridated tap water and low-fluoride water — such as purified, demineralized, deionized or distilled bottled water — to prepare concentrated formula.
Remember, though, early exposure to fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. If you feed your baby only ready-to-feed formula or concentrated formula mixed with low-fluoride water, your baby's doctor might recommend fluoride supplements beginning at 6 months. Be sure to talk to your child's dentist or doctor about your child's other possible exposures to fluoride first. Jay L. Hoecker, M. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
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