Fluoride supplementation in infants has become unnecessary

So far, prevention of dental caries, were given systematically at birth, drops or tablets of fluoride. This practice has been suspended by the French Agency for the Safety of Health Products: It is therefore recommended that fluoride to young children. Several reasons have motivated this decision.

First, tooth decay among young children have fallen over the past twenty years. Improving the oral hygiene partly explains this phenomenon.

Meanwhile, sources of fluoride have multiplied: fluoridated table salt, tap water, bottled water, toothpaste, gels ...

Attention, however, there are disparities. In the backgrounds for example, oral hygiene may be less good, while depending on the region, the fluoride content of tap water is highly variable and that some mineral waters are more or less rich in fluoride.

Thus, some children are particularly at risk, some at risk of overdose fluoride, other sub-determination ...

If fluoride has a preventive effect against caries (it promotes remineralization of the tooth and inhibits the development of bacteria responsible for cavities), in high doses, it can lead to the opposite effect. So in case of overdose, the enamel is porous, teeth will weaken and damage are likely to emerge is fluorosis.

And finally, the understanding of developing tooth decay has changed. By giving fluorine from birth, was believed promote mineralization crowns. Yet we now know that fluoride is most effective when administered after tooth eruption. In addition, it has a greater protective effect when administered locally in the mouth, at low doses but fair. It therefore seems logical to abandon the administration of high doses specific form of drops or tablets and also from birth.




What are the new recommendations?

From birth to 6 months, no longer systematically fluorine.

Beyond 6 months, it differentiates children at high risk for cavities of the reduced risk.

20 to 30% of children are at high risk and nearly 80% of cavities. They are often from disadvantaged backgrounds, have a poor hygiene and food errors (snacking, sugary drinks). Note also that the child is often contaminated by bacteria oral his mother, herself cavities, where it embraces ... All these children at high risk can and should be screened so that they can specifically benefit of a prescription for oral fluoride.

Regarding children with low risk, oral administration of fluoride is unnecessary. The prevention of caries is based solely on brushing teeth (twice a day) with toothpaste with fluoride content tailored to the age of the child. Nevertheless, a personalized account balance of inputs fluoride in the diet (drinking water, salt) is recommended to detect a risk of fluorosis.