Talk to me about fluoride

[Wild Lupine]

My DD is having her first dental appointment tomorrow. I have a feeling the dentist will suggest fluoride treatment as 1) dentists tend to do that sort of thing, IIRC, and 2) our town doesn't fluoridate it's drinking water.

So, tell me why I should or shouldn't agree to this. My research on fluoride has been very mixed so if you have any handy links in favor or against fluoride treatment that would be great! I realize this may have been addressed many times before in this forum, so if there's a particular thread I should look at please let me know.

[nj's_mom]

Originally Posted by onemomentatatime

My DD is having her first dental appointment tomorrow. I have a feeling the dentist will suggest fluoride treatment as 1) dentists tend to do that sort of thing, IIRC, and 2) our town doesn't fluoridate it's drinking water.

So, tell me why I should or shouldn't agree to this. My research on fluoride has been very mixed so if you have any handy links in favor or against fluoride treatment that would be great! I realize this may have been addressed many times before in this forum, so if there's a particular thread I should look at please let me know.

Wondering this as well!

[LDSmomma]

I'm wondering this, too!

DS is 14 months, and after seeing that our local news just did a story on Fluoridated drinking water, and dental fluorosis, I checked DS's teeth. He DOES have white spots! Eek! So, I guess drinking fluoridated water has done this to him/us. I'm looking into what to do next. Obviously, stop drinking the water, but I'm not really sure the cheapest way to get water that isn't fluoridated!

A website I checked out, which has links to other informative websites: www.spotsonmyteeth.com

Hope this helps!

[RunnerMommy]

In the same boat here and wondering the same things too! I asked the dentist and of course he said it was safe, but i was expecting that . He uses a fluoride varnish, which he claims is the safest treatment and does not get swallowed, but I can't see how something that is left on your teeth while you eat/drink for 8 hrs and then can simply be brushed off would not be swallowed.

I was over-fluoridated as a child and I have the white/yellowish spots to prove it. I took the fluoride pills, got the dentist treatments and had fluoridated water. But I also have never had a cavity (almost 31 years old now) and I'm kind of a slacker when it comes to taking care of my teeth (only regularly brush one time per day, floss maybe once per week). Anyway, I do think the fluoride made my teeth extra strong. But at what cost??

(edit: I just checked out the spotsonmyteeth website and my teeth are not nearly as discolored as those pictured! Yikes!)

I do feel that if we followed a "perfect" diet, with no refined flours/sugars and lots of greens, healthy fats, etc. that fluoride would not be needed. But the reality is that we do eat processed food from time to time, and even if I did eliminate it at home, the kids would still be exposed to it elsewhere. So what to do??

[karen25]

This thread over here has some good information on flouride.
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1155635

I feel that fluoride has helped my teeth stay strong, but yes I have noticed a few spots on my teeth.