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Dental and Oral Health (Children)

Flouride usage

10/07/2008

Question:

We live on well water, and buy drinking water at the local grocery stores (no floride added). My children are 4 and 6 and the 4 year old will use a flouride toothpaste, the other uses a berry kids one. My 6 year old is in the school flouride rinse program. Would you suggest we switch to flouride water and/or a flouride chewable tablet?

Answer:

Thank you for the question. From the sounds of what you currently do, I don't believe supplementing with fluoride water is necessary. The main benefit of fluoride is a low-dose high frequency topical action, which your kids are probably getting with the use of toothpaste. I would recommend talking with their dentist to make an individualized prevention plan based also on their cavity (caries) experience/history. Hope that helps.

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Response by:

Sarath Thikkurissy, DDS, MS Sarath Thikkurissy, DDS, MS
Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry
College of Dentistry
The Ohio State University