NEW GUIDELINES FOR FLUORIDE SUPPLEMENTS

INTRODUCTION:

Both the Canadian Dental Association and American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry have recommended a decrease in fluoride supplements because in some cases, mild fluorosis or mottling has been occurring in permanent teeth.  One of the contributing causes has been an excess consumption of fluoride primarily during the ages of birth to three years.

  1. No fluoride supplements whatsoever are to be given to children if they are receiving fluoridated water.  Fluoride may be added by  the municipality or city to the communal water supply, or in some cases, it may be found in bottled water.   Therefore, it is crucial and essential that you consult with the The Health Unit to ensure whether there is any natural fluoride in your water, and if you are drinking bottled water, make sure you review the contents on the contents label to determine if fluoride is present.
  2. Be careful of vitamin supplements for children, as many contain fluoride. IF YOUR WATER IS FLUORIDATED, DO NOT GIVE vitamins containing fluoride.

IF NO FLUORIDE IS PRESENT IN THE WATER, then the following recommendation should be followed:

  1. NO FLUORIDE supplements whatsoever 0 to 6 MONTHS.
  2. Ages 6 MONTHS TO THREE YEARS 1/4 tablet or 0.25 mg/day.
  3. Ages THREE TO FIVE, 1/2 tablet or 0.50 milligrams given at night time.
  4. Ages SIX TO FOURTEEN, one chewable tablet or 1.0 milligram daily at night time.

Start to brush your child's teeth as soon as  they erupt or come into the mouth with a toothbrush moistened with water only.

No fluoride should be used on children until at least age two, and then only a small PEA SIZED amount of fluoridated toothpaste should be used to clean the child's dentition until age five.

PLEASE supervise your children during toothbrushing to ensure that they DO NOT swallow too much toothpaste.  If your child cannot spit out the paste, then DO NOT use any fluoride toothpaste until age three.

Use a children's or paediatric toothpaste, DO NOT allow your child/children to swallow the toothpaste until age six.

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