Fluoride is it necessary to breastfed baby

Fluoride
Fluoride intake of children breastfed are relatively low, while those infants milk industry vary widely depending on the brand of industrial milk and water used to dilute it. In areas where the water in homes contains less than 0.3 ppm of fluoride, the daily intake of most infants milk industry will be 30 to 40 g / kg / day. Taking a supplement of fluoride of 0.25 mg / day by a child of 4 kg bring its fluoride intake to about 100 g / kg / day, a rate which leads to fluorosis of permanent teeth.

Currently, non-breastfed children are exposed during their entire childhood at rates much higher fluorine that breastfed babies (J Public Health Dent 1999; 59: 229-34).

However, the use of fluoride in children in order to prevent tooth decay is increasingly questioned. The Canadian Association of dentists believed that fluoride should not be given before 6 to 7 years: there is no scientific evidence demonstrating that additional fluoride has a real interest and can lead to permanent dental fluorosis ( Canadian Dental Association advise against fluoride supplementation in young children. Board of Governors, March 2000).

Dr H Limeback, head of the Department of Dentistry at the University of Toronto, has long been the promotion of fluoride supplements. He gave an interview where he said that current data show that was a mistake (The tribute, 5/12/99). He believes that children under 3 years should not receive fluoride supplements, and drinking water fortified with fluoride, or use a toothpaste containing. There has been worrying changes in bone architecture and a rate 3 to 8 times higher osteosarcoma among boys living in cities where water is fluoridated compared to children does not consume fluoridated water ( New Jersey Health Department).

A Finnish study examined the incidence of caries in children aged 3 to 9 years in areas where the water was enriched with fluoride until 1992, and it had been then. No variation in the incidence of caries was found (Com Dent Oral Epiderniol 2000; 28: 281-88). In Germany, a study has found a decrease in the prevalence of tooth decay among children after cessation of fluoridation of water (Com Dentistry Oral Epiderniol 2000; 28: 382-89). In Ireland, the decision of the fluoridation of water, used since 1963, was passed by many cities. In Sweden, the use of fluoride toothpaste is not recommended before 6 years.

Breastfeeding does not seem to have a significant impact on the rate of caries (including the night feedings do not increase the risk of cavities).

According to studies conducted on the subject, the main risk factors of caries are:

the presence of a large number of caries in the mother (she sends the child a microbe which is involved in the occurrence of cavities)
Food: too much sugar and refined products
the level of oral hygiene.


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Supplementation systematic fluorine is still justified in the USA or 50 years since we were sure of the effectiveness of fluoride, the combination of multiple supplementations (fluoridation of drinking water, salt, chewing gum, gels and toothpaste) led to dental fluorosis. This led to recommendations limiting the intake of fluoride in children's products and even to discuss the legitimacy of fluoride supplements.

A survey conducted in France in 1998 among children aged 12, has found that 2.75% fluorosis very light to moderate. They were due to errors such as the simultaneous use in early childhood of toothpaste too rich in fluorine and a double by oral intake fluoride salt tablets and fluoride.

Almost all of the fluoride in the body binds to calcified tissue, bone and dental form crystals fluorapatite. Fluoride prevents disease caries by inhibiting demineralization of enamel by acidic solutions, promoting its remineralisation and inhibit bacterial plaque.

In Seine-Saint-Denis, in 8 years, the index rose caries among children 11 years of 3.38 to 1.99 on a fall of 41%, the percentage of children free from 19 to 42 %. For 25 years, the caries prevalence has declined by 50% in all countries of Western Europe.

It is therefore essential to ensure a regular fluoride orally at the toddler, supplemented subsequently, through local (fluoride toothpaste). The supplementation should begin at birth. It will be 0.25 mg per day before 3 years of 0.50 mg 3 to 6 years and 1 mg from 6 years. From 6 years old, just use a fluoride salt. In the very few areas where the water contains more than 0.3 mg / l of fluoride is unnecessary.

Fluoride toothpaste can be used only for 3 or even 4 years old, the young child déglutissant up half the dough. It may still swallowing up 30% between 4 and 6 years. Before age 6, so do use toothpaste that is low in fluoride (250 ppm), in small quantity (size of a pea) and teach children to spit out toothpaste.

One of the major preventative policies in industrialized countries is the prevention of dental caries. Of the three proposed measures for the prevention, restriction of simple sugars, oral hygiene and use of fluoride, all work to agree on the essential role of fluorine in the success observed.