IS FLUORIDE OK FOR CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 3?

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has sent letters to four companies that produce unregulated oral fluoride supplements, and made recommendations that oral supplements not be given to children younger than 3.

Those supplements have specifically been given to children who live in areas where the water has not had fluoride added to it. You can check whether your water system has added fluoride or not at nccd.cdc.gov/DOH_MWF/Default/CountyList.aspx.

If the answer is no, talk to your pediatrician or dentist about whether or not a supplement is recommended, said Dr. Elizabeth Knapp, a pediatrician at Austin Regional Clinic. 

"We don't jump to supplements," said Dr. Abby Menke, the lead dentist with St. David's Foundation, which provides dental care for children in Title I schools. Instead, pediatricians and dentists focus on good oral hygiene including teeth brushing. Then, Menke said, if it is "clinically indicated," a supplement might be recommended.

Dental disease is the most common chronic illness in children. "Oral health care starting at birth is vital to overall health," Menke said. 

The FDA's action does not mean children should not receive fluoride in their toothpaste or other cavity protection.

The right amount of fluoride helps strengthen the enamel and keep bacteria from settling in the mouth. Children who don't have good oral hygiene can have their baby teeth weakened by cavities and dissolve. They are at risk for infection. "The children are in pain and need treatment," Knapp said. 

Teeth also are important when learning to talk and how to eat properly, Menke said.

"Anything we can do to start early, healthy habits can help reduce oral health problems down the road," Menke said.

Here's what parents should be doing for children younger than 3 once that first tooth appears:

• Brush teeth twice a day using a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste. For babies, you can use a finger toothbrush, a washcloth or a kid-size toothbrush. 
• Check that the toothpaste has an ADA (American Dental Association) Seal of Acceptance on it.
• Children younger than 3 also should have a varnish put on their teeth every three to six months, either by their pediatrician or their dentist, to protect the teeth.
• Keep toothpaste out of reach of young children. Ingesting too much toothpaste could cause stomach upset, and too much fluoride also can damage the teeth. If a child does eat a whole tube, parents should call poison control, 800-222-1222. 

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2025-11-07T11:50:34Z