Should infants and children receive fluoride supplements to prevent tooth decay?
Infants and children ages 6 months and over living in communities in which the drinking water supply doesn’t have enough fluoride should receive fluoride supplements. A dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority needs to recommend the amount and type of supplements. Fluoride supplements may be recommended by a health professional in accordance with guidelines for infants or children. Examples of fluoride supplements include drops and tablets. Health professionals base their recommendation for fluoride supplements on the child’s risk for developing tooth decay and the known level of fluoride in the drinking water. No infant or child should be given fluoride supplements unless the supplements have been prescribed by a dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority. Before fluoride supplements are prescribed, the health professional will need to know how much fluoride is in the infant’s or child’s drinking water.
Infants and children ages 6 months and over living in communities in which the drinking water supply doesn’t have enough fluoride should receive fluoride supplements. A dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority needs to recommend the amount and type of supplements. Fluoride supplements may be recommended by a health professional in accordance with guidelines for infants or children. Examples of fluoride supplements include drops and tablets. Health professionals base their recommendation for fluoride supplements on the child’s risk for developing tooth decay and the known level of fluoride in the drinking water. No infant or child should be given fluoride supplements unless the supplements have been prescribed by a dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority. Before fluoride supplements are prescribed, the health professional will need to know how much fluoride is in the infant’s or child’s drinking water.
