August 2012 Moms

Fluoride drops?

At Logan's 12 mo check up, I received a kit to test our water for fluoride. I just received the results, no fluoride, so his doctor recommends giving fluoride drops. I'm waiting on a nurse to call me back to explain, but I don't understand why he needs it? I understand what fluoride is but how important is it? Anyone else giving drops?
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Re: Fluoride drops?

  • We are doing drops but just putting a half dose in her water sippy each day. We are on well water so it's not fluoridated and doing some research (and asking bumpies) shows a small amount is important for cavity prevention.
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  • Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Every day, minerals are added to and lost from a tooth's enamel layer through two processes, demineralization and remineralization. Minerals are lost (demineralization) from a tooth's enamel layer when acids -- formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth -- attack the enamel. Minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are redeposited (remineralization) to the enamel layer from the foods and waters consumed. Too much demineralization without enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer leads to tooth decay.

    Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. In children under 6 years of age, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also helps speed remineralization as well as disrupts acid production in already erupted teeth of both children and adults.

    It is certainly important for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years to be exposed to fluoride. This is the timeframe during which the primary and permanent teeth come in. However, adults benefit from fluoride, too. New research indicates that topical fluoride -- from toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments -- are as important in fighting tooth decay as in strengthening developing teeth.


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    we don't give the drops because we have city water that is already fluoridated.
  • Our doctor just looked at Caroline's teeth and said they look fine and she doesn't need drops. We have city water so it's already fluorinated but I feel like she never drinks water. He barely drinks the recommended milk in her silly throughout the course of a day, so I rarely offer water..

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  • I've apparently never lived in a place where water wasn't fluoridated! I'm picking up his drops this week.
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