Fluoride, any parents or soon to be, anti, or limit intake?

Question

There have been a lot of news articles about fluoridation the last two months. Cali pushing for it in certain counties, and Alaska pushing to remove from their state[which they now have].
http://www.fluoridealert.org/news/index.php

So this made me actually look into fluoride. I sort of feel like I was completely oblivious all along about fluoride. The thing is, I tried discussing this with friends, and said it was 'new momma paranoia'. I was a bit offended, but I know they didn't even bother to look at reports from the ADA [American dental assoc.] CDC, or WHO [World Health]

I wondered if anyone limits fluoride intake or plans to?

For anyone that does not know what I am talking about..
A few facts I found..

Children less than 1yr old, who drink formula [powder not ready-to-feed] should not have it mixed with tap water or fluoridated water, because there is a risk of to much fluoride, Leading to Fluorosis.
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/infantsformula_faq.asp

Fluorosis in children is up from 22.8% in 1986--1987 to 32% in 1999--2002. Fluorosis is from being exposed to too much fluoride.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5403a1.htm

Countries that do fluoridate their water (such as the United States and Australia), recent large-scale surveys of dental health - utilizing modern scientific methods not employed in the early surveys from the 1930s-1950s - have found little difference in tooth decay, including in "baby bottle tooth decay", between fluoridated and unfluoridated communities.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/teeth/caries/index.html

Fluoride that is not excreted is absorbed into your bones.
According to studies found in WHO data, too much fluoride is linked to arthritis and bone cancer.
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/fluoride_drinking_water_full.pdf

I must admit, I switched to fluoride free tooth paste last night. Main Ingrediant xylitol.

Answer 1

I have four kids- I've been around and around the fluoride debate. We don't have fluoridated water. I did give my kids multivitamins with fluoride until they were about three. I do use a fluoridated toothpaste, and they receive fluoride treatments at the dentist. Essentially, I don't want to over-do it. But I think in small doses, it is good for their developing teeth. I hope I'm not wrong about this. It's so hard to know what's the very best for your child. More power to you for researching it and trying to make the best decision. All the best!

Answer 2

I have begun to look into this as well. Currently I am having a problem with both my girls and the water in my city which has just below the federal guidelines of flouride. Both my girls get loose bowel movements when consuming the tap water - even filtered tap water. There is obvious something in the city water that is not good for you - we cannot figure out what it is however flouride has been on our mind especially with all the reports out on it.
My husband and some of my family thinks I am paranoid too - or a hypercondriac. Both my girls have had febrile seizures and I hate to say it but after looking into things and timelines - I blame the water. I have however proved to everyone that it was the water that was causing the loose stools.
The poblem with this whole flouride thing - is the scientists or doctors cannot prove their theory because EVERYONE has a different makeup within their body. Therefore while some things may bother one person it will have no impact on the next.
I know this - why don' t they??

I am hoping that the flouride is removed from our tap water - if we want stronger teeth it should be our choice to use it not theirs.

So yes I too am limiting or removing flouride from my family.

Also a note to non believers - I drank a whole lot of water as a child and adult. I brushed 2 to 3 times a day. I barely ate candy even as a child ( more of a salty snack person ), was not allowed to drink soda and still do not to this day and only had sugarless gum - I had to have the teeth on the top removed due to a bone disease caused carriers. Apparently the flouride did not make my teeth all that great!

Answer 3

Don't pay attention to people who say anything is new mama paranoia. I haven't heard anything about it but thanx cause id like to read about it.
I think that its probably not as big of a problem as you seem to feel it might be. I wouldn't keep myself up at night or go out of my way to make changes at this point. But any chemical is bad for your body, and the more you put in it the worse it is. By the way have you ever read the ingredient on a box of any processed food. There's probably more things in there that are more concerning than fluoride in drinking water.

By the way i don't use tap water, and i have seen bottled water that sais it has flouride and i wouldnt buy it.

Answer 4

YES!!! I'm glad to here you did your research. We have quit using flouride for about 4 years now. Won't get it at the dentist, nor will my child. We use non-flouride toothpaste always. To make matters worse, I've heard some say flouride isn't even good for your teeth! It just excessively hardens them, which causes little hairline cracks in them (Have no proof for that, just word of mouth). And OHHH I get so disgusted and sad when I see water especially made for BABIES that has flouride ADDED to it!!! So sad :O(

Answer 5

hello there

i am a mother of three young children,4 years old,18 months and a 4 months old.i did not give fluoride until my son was 2,then i did gave him fluoride water with his juice.make sure he knows not to swallow toothpaste,then it is not a problem,i've been following my pediatrician advice,i don't care of my friends advice on the subject,because she went in medical school,they did not...just follow the avice of your pediatrician,she or he should know best....by the way ,none of my children have been sick...i guess i do have a great pediatrician.....

Answer 6

I don't know