Researchers Caution: Avoid Feeding Babies Fluoridated Water

from New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation

Numbered references appear at the end of this article.

Infant formulas prepared with fluoridated water increase dental fluorosis risk, according to the April 2004 Journal of the American College of Nutrition and other studies. To prevent this tooth staining, researchers caution against mixing infant formulas with fluoridated water. Fluorosis, white-spotted, yellow or brown stained, sometimes pitted or crumbly teeth, is the too-late warning sign that babies have overdosed on fluoride. Researchers Marshall and colleagues found more fluorosed teeth in children who consumed the most fluoridated water, either straight water alone or through infant formulas.(1)

Researchers Brothwell and Limeback urge breastfeeding or mixing infant formula with non-fluoridated water to avoid dental fluorosis. In a November 2003 Journal of Human Lactation study they found three times more fluorosis in children consuming 1 milligram per liter fluoridated water compared to those who drank non-fluoridated water.(2)

Breastfeeding does not increase cavity risk, according to a recent Journal of the American Dental Association study.(3)

Researcher Mascarenhas also advised parents to avoid fluoridated water for infant formula preparation to prevent fluorosis in a 2000 Pediatric Dentistry study.(4)

At least eleven other studies link reconstituted formula with fluorosis.(5a-k) This gives dentistry a new income source--concealing fluoride-induced discolored teeth.(6)

"To our knowledge, no US dental or governmental agency promoting fluoridation as a cavity preventive, such as the American Dental Association or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), warns parents to avoid fluoridated water for infant feeding. Why not?" asks lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation. Formula prepared with fluoridated water provides 100 times more fluoride than the amount in breast milk.(7) And newborns do not have fully developed kidneys for handling the fluoride at this early stage of life.(8) This can lead to dangerous fluoride build-up in bones.(9) Not only is infant fluoride intake risky, it's unnecessary. According to the CDC, "Fluoride works primarily after teeth have erupted."(10)

The US Food and Drug Administration has never safety-tested fluoride for ingestion.(11) In 2000, after extensively reviewing fluoride and health studies, a panel of British scientists report, "We were unable to discover any reliable good-quality evidence [about dental benefits of fluoridated water] in the fluoridation literature world-wide."(12) This despite incorrect news reports disseminated by prominent fluoride proponents about this review.(13)

For more information, contact nyscof@aol.com, tinyurl.com/ad9k, www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof.

References:

1) "Associations between Intakes of Fluoride from Beverages during Infancy and Dental Fluorosis of Primary Teeth,"

2) "Breastfeeding is protective against dental fluorosis in a nonfluoridated rural area of Ontario, Canada"

3) "The relationship between healthful eating practices and dental caries in children aged 2-5 years in the United States, 1988-1994"

4) "Risk factors for dental fluorosis: a review of the recent literature"

5a) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt= Abstract&list_uids=10860326 b) same as 5a but with =10343089 at the end c) similarly, with =9829868 d) =8639113 e) =7776294 f) =2589311 g) =3198847 h) =12925822 i) =11324405 j) =11109209 k) http://iadr.confex.com/iadr/2004Hawaii/techprogram/abstract_40477.htm

6) "Using microabrasive material to remove fluorosis stains"

7) The Ecologist, 1986, Volume 16 "Fluoride: New Grounds for Concern," By Mark Diesendorf and Philip R.N. Sutton

8) Caries Research 1984 "Fluoride Balance Studies on Infants in a 1-ppm-water-fluoride area" by Ekstrand J, Hardell LI, SpakCJ

9) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, "Public Health Statement for Fluorides, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Fluorine"

10) US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

11) Suite 101 - Fluoridation - includes e-mail correspondence between Suite 101 author and the FDA "Fluoride - Not FDA Approved for Ingestion," March 21, 2004

12) "What the 'York Review' on the fluoridation of drinking water really found," 28 October 2003, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK

13) National Center for Fluoridation Policy & Research and Oral Health America's Center for Fluoridation, Michael W. Easley, D.D.S., M.P.H.; Director