We all want our water supply to be as “clean” and “natural” as possible right?! Pinellas has had fluoridated water (0.7ppm) since 2013. Fluoride is classified as a micronutrient by the Institute of Medicine, and most home filtration systems do not remove it unless reverse osmosis type.

Following the recommended level will benefit your child’s dental health and create the strongest teeth possible through incorporating fluoride into the enamel (fluorapatite is less soluble, resists acid more than normal hydroxyapatite and antimicrobial). For achieving the greatest dental benefit, try to remember “pea size over three.” This means for under 3-year-olds – place only a smear size of fluoridated toothpaste on your child’s brush twice daily. Even in utero, the crown- part of tooth which shows above gums- of baby teeth is mineralizing, and at birth and the early months of life the permanent teeth start mineralizing as well. Give your child the best chance of success and allow them to be exposed to the appropriate amounts of fluoride from a young age.

0.7ppm fluoride in community water is the recommendation from US Dept Health is safe for those 6 month olds and older consuming water.. but some wells, natural springs and bottled waters have unregulated or too high a level. In very high levels, the teeth may show signs of fluorosis which typically still have more cavity resistance with some whitish patches (except in severe cases which may show some other rare demarcations). This is usually the issue when children are receiving too many sources of fluoride (pediatrician approved drops, too much toothpaste daily, mixing concentrated formula with fluoride and fluoridated water). Water testing kits are available for parents who are unsure of the amount their child is receiving. The most critical time period when the crowns are still developing under 8 years old.

Sources:
https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/ce-courses/ce410/fluoride-s-mechanism-of-action &
https://pinellas.gov/water-fluoridation-facts #pinellaswater #waterismedicine #naturalmom