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Oral Health Resources

Find downloadable information about common dental issues and procedures. For more information catering to your patients’ needs, visit www.KnowYourTeeth.com, the Academy of General Dentistry’s public Web site.

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   >>> Fluoride   Related articles:
  • What is Fluoride?
  • Monitor Infant's Fluoride Intake

    • >> Fluoride Intake Important for Children
     

    Fluoride Intake Important for Children

    Fluoride Intake Important for Children

     

    Parents should pay attention to the amount of fluoride their child receives. Too much fluoride can cause tooth discoloration, and too little fluoride can cause teeth to be more susceptible to cavities.

     

    Bottled waters need to be on the list of items that parents must check before giving to their child. Some bottled waters have little or no fluoride at all.

     

    "This is a problem when parents are giving their children only this 'designer' water from a bottle," says Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) spokesperson Heidi Hausauer, DDS. "In my own practice, I've seen an 8-year-old girl come in with eight cavities. The fact that she's been drinking only non-fluoridated water could have been a contributing factor. Most of the tap water in this country is properly fluoridated, so it's best if the child receives most of the water straight from the faucet."

     

    When introducing toothpaste, the AGD recommends using a small pea-sized dab.

     

    "Parents should be brushing their child's teeth with this amount until the child is 6 years old," says Dr. Hausauer. "Until this age, children don't have the dexterity to brush by themselves properly and they tend to swallow the toothpaste and ingest the fluoride, which can put them at risk for fluorosis (tooth discoloration)."
     
    Updated: February 2007 
    The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a non-profit organization of more than 35,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patient's oral health needs. Learn more about AGD member dentists or find more information on dental health topics at www.agd.org/public.

    Contact: The AGD public relations department at 312.440.4308 or media@agd.org.

    Note: Information that appears in General Dentistry, the AGD's peer-reviewed journal, AGD Impact, the AGD's newsmagazine and related press releases do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the AGD.