Fluoride advice for 3yo needed please

[HappyLoveMama]

My pedi said that we could do topical fluoride treatments and just get regular vitamins (nonfluoride). We were at the dentist yesterday for my sons first visit and was told by them that it may be enough since his teeth are in really good shape but then after saying that she then said that the treatments usually last about a day then wear off. So if we do the topical treatments twice a year with no other fluoride use, is that enough? I'm not into ingestion of fluoride since I know how toxic it is and feel better about it applied topically but I just wonder what the best option is. The hygienist told me that the vitMins work from the inside out and are most effective over time but I didn't want to get into it with her. So I'm in the middle here where I know that fluoride is toxic and bad but don't want to avoid it if we can get by on twice a year treatments.

Any thoughts?

[HappyLoveMama]

Seriously? No one? LOL

[mbravebird]

I haven't done research about the topical flouride they use in dentist's offices, but I have been researching green tea, which is high in flouride and has been shown to prevent/arrest tooth decay as well as reduce bacteria counts in the mouth.

The studies where they had people rinse with green tea showed the same result as ingesting it.

Green tea has more than just flouride in it -- it has bunches of other compounds that are great for tooth and mouth health, so I'm not comparing it to just flouride. But it does seem that topical is as effective as ingested, if you look at just the green tea studies.

We are currently doing a green tea/xylitol rinse about three times a day.

The other thing that I was told at the dentist was that the flouride "paint" was lower in actual flouride than a supplement or rinse, because it stays on the teeth so long that they can use less.

Hth...

[HappyLoveMama]

Hmm my hygienist said the testaments wear off after a day or so. She said the most effective way was tiny amounts over time. Just so confused. At the end of the day I have to just make a decision and go with it. I do so many healthy things for him that I have to believe he's going to be fine either way...