Fluoride and Infantsby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 20 Jun 2008 08:38 AM
Fluoride in the right amount is helpful for preventing tooth decay and strengthening your baby's teeth. If you baby is given too much fluoride, then the teeth can become black and mottled. This mainly just affects the appearance of the teeth and not the health of the teeth, but it is far from attractive. Fluoride can makes its way into your baby's body in a few different ways. Here are some general information about fluoride and infants. Are you breast feeding? If you are exclusively breast feeding your baby, then there isn't much to do about fluoride until your baby is about three or four months or until the first teeth start to erupt. Your pediatrician may prescribe a fluoride supplement or a vitamin with fluoride added. Once your baby is old enough to have water, she may continue fluoride supplements if you have well water or if your city water doesn't contain fluoride. You pediatrician should information on your city water, or you can check with your water company. If you are bottle feeding, the fluoride issue is a little more complicated. During the first 12 month, ready to feed formula is recommended because it has the correct amount of fluoride for your baby. If you use concentrated formula or powdered formula that is mixed with water, it is easy for your baby to get too much fluoride. Mix the formula with water that you know is fluoride free or has low levels of fluoride. Bottled water is not necessarily free of fluoride. Instead, chose purified, de-mineralized, de-ionized or distilled water. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here. Related Articles: Bottle Feeding Past 15 Months Linked to Iron Deficiency Girls Benefit Most from Breastfeeding Formula Mixed With Fluoride Water May Discolor Teeth Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments nyscof (20) 21 Jun 2008 03:59 AMProfessionals Urge End to Fluoridation Over 1,725 professionals signed a statement urging Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. (http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html) Signers include a Nobel Prize winner, three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride’s toxicology, two officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters, the President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, and hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide. Signer Dr. Arvid Carlsson, winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine, says, â€Å"Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It's really obsolete.†An Online Action Petition to Congress in support of the Professionals' Statement is available on FAN's web site, http://congress.fluorideaction.net and over 12,000 individuals have signed so far. â€Å"The NRC report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride's health risks," says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network. "Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report,†he added. The Professionals’ Statement also references: -- The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water. -- The CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic. -- CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children. -- Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. -- A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer. -- The silicofluoride chemicals used for fluoridation are contaminated industrial waste and have never been FDA- approved for human ingestion. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, â€Å"It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it's as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant.†Further, researchers reporting in the Oct 6 2007 British Medical Journal indicate that fluoridation, touted as a safe cavity preventive, never was proven safe or effective and may be unethical. (1) Many communities rejected or stopped fluoridation over the years. See: http://www.fluoridealert.org/communities.htm SOURCE: Fluoride Action Network http://www.FluorideAction.Net References: (1) â€Å"Adding fluoride to water supplies,†British Medical Journal, KK Cheng, Iain Chalmers, Trevor A. Sheldon, October 6, 2007 Community Tags baby names, baby, fluoride, infants, pediatrician Discuss this article
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