Children have fluoride in their toothpaste just
like adults,
but sometimes even this crucial aspect of oral healthcare isn’t enough to avoid
tooth decay. For parents who are worried their children aren’t getting all the
help they need to protect their oral health, you can always ask your dentist
about fluoride drops, which are sometimes prescribed for children when their
first set of teeth is still forming. If you want to know more about fluoride
drops, then check out our quick guide below to learn more.
Fluoride’s Many Forms
Prescription
fluorides can be topically dispensed via toothpaste, mouth rinses, or gels. For
babies, however, the ADA recommends fluoride be systemically administered
through drinking water and supplemental tablets and liquids. When taken orally,
fluoride travels throughout the body and gets released into saliva in order to
fortify teeth, which makes them stronger as well as more decay resistant. Regarding
drops, they can be an effective, safe means of measuring and providing babies
with systemic doses of fluoride that are appropriate for their age as well as
their oral healthcare needs.
Why Provide Fluoride Drops
to Infants?
Infants
are prescribed fluoride drops to keep cavities from developing in the permanent
and the primary teeth while both sets are forming. Fluoride drops are typically
recommended for infants who reside in areas with water supplies not fortified by
fluoride, which is the case in regions of the United States, Canada, Australia,
and other countries. The US Department of Health and Human Services conducts
scientific peer-reviewed studies regularly to decide safe fluoride levels of for
public water supplies.
Distributing Fluoride Drops
When
prescribing fluoride supplements, dentists or doctors must first discover the quantity
of fluoride that’s present in an infant’s drinking water. State or local health
departments can assess your water for when you don’t know the fluoride amount
or use a well. Fluoride ion concentrations are measured via parts per million in
both supplemental dosage and drinking water, but drops are usually pre-mixed as
well as measured via milligrams, per the ADA.
Regarding
liquid fluoride, it may be provided to children with food or without or even
diluted with juice or water. Some prescriptions call for fluoride drops being
given every day while others only need to be taken once per week. Many
pharmacists will recommend babies or toddlers waiting until two hours have
passed since taking the medication to drink, eat, or otherwise take other
medication.
As
with other medications, it's important that you keep fluoride out of your children’s
reach. If they ingest an excess amount, it could lead to indigestion, stomach
pain, or diarrhea. Other mild risks of excess fluoride over a longer period of
time include possible fluorosis, which can cause white spots to develop on baby
teeth. While it may appear strange, this condition is typically harmless and shouldn’t
affect the child’s permanent teeth.
If you
want to save money on dental bills not covered by your insurance, consider
signing up for our New Hampshire supplemental dental insurance. For information
about out family plans (we also offer plans for individuals and business owners), click here.
