Tell me about Fluoride

[icy02]

Should I do it?? Fluoride vitamins, fluoride on my 2 yr olds teeth. I'm thinking no, but I really don't know that much about it and would love some insight. 

Also, my DS1 just turned 2. When should I think about taking him to the dentist? I was gonna start making some calls to find a good pediatric dentist.

[crunchy_mommy]

Do you get your water from a town/city water supply in the US? If so (and you don't have a filter to filter out fluoride) then your DS is likely already getting more than enough, possibly an excess... We use fluoride-free (homemade) toothpaste and do not use any other fluoride vitamins/gel/etc. and we are actually trying to find a fluoride removal filter for our drinking water. That stuff can be really toxic in mid to large quantities... I'd be very cautious about using fluoride unless perhaps you have well water and aren't getting any from ANY other source.

Now is a good time to take him to a dentist... we took DS with us when he was 1.5 but all they did was give him a sticker and a lollipop (!) and he freaked out too much to let them actually look in his mouth. (He has severe stranger anxiety, though it's getting better these days). So I guess either find a really really good ped. dentist or just take him when you're going anyway because if he's at all skittish around doctors/dentists/etc. it will likely be a very very quick trip & not worth a separate appointment. I would have liked them to actually check DS's teeth but at that point it just seemed more important that he at least start to get used to the concept without traumatizing him....

[icy02]

We have a great water filter. I don't agree with the fluoridation of drinking water. He also has fluoride-free toothpaste.

[crunchy_mommy]

Oh so are you talking more about the fluoride treatments at the dentist??

[icy02]

Yes :)

[crunchy_mommy]

Hmmn good question, I assume that's done when they get older not at 2? I didn't even think about that yet!!

I know I have great teeth (never had a cavity, no weird marks, nothing...) and I did have the fluoride treatments as a kid (and also sometimes used a gel when I had braces) -- we had well water with no fluoride, so I wasn't getting a ton from that, but we did use a fluoridated toothpaste. I don't know. I hope someone else chimes in here lol. I don't think a little fluoride is bad (though I do think most kids tend to get way too much)...

[littlest birds]

I would avoid it.  I am against adding flouride to our bodies.  I let my older kids have flouride toothpaste because they spit and they really really want those kinds but still avoid anything internal, and always used non-flouride toothpaste when younger than about 7yo.  I have never had flouride treatments for me or any of our children, and never will.  BTW not one of them has ever had a cavity and they have over time had their fair share of sugar and such.

FWIW the dentists around here are very big on offering sealants.  Yucky!  I'm guessing yours will offer too, so you may want to learn about that before you are asked.