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NewsChannel
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Fluoride
And Babies Don't Mix, Says
ADA
Nov
24, 2006 11:15 PM EST
Most
cities in
Tennessee
add fluoride to their water systems. Experts have debated for
and against the practice.
A
new recommendation has put fluoride back in the spotlight,
with babies in the center of the debate.
Julie
Pusser prepares her 10-month-old's formula only with bottled
water.
"It's
all ready, I don't have to boil it, sterilize it and it stays
at the room temperature," she said.
According
to the American Dental Association's website, Julie Pusser is
doing the right thing for little Jacquline. The
ADA
now recommends parents not mix baby formula with fluoridated
city water.
That
recommendation comes on the heels of the National Research
Council's findings that, on a per body weight basis, infants
and young children have approximately three to four times
greater exposure to fluoride than adults.
Dan
Stockin thinks cities shouldn't add fluoride to their water
supply, because he claims it causes big problems.
"When
the teeth are forming, the fluoride affects the teeth,"
Stockin said.
Overexposure
to fluoride, or dental fluorosis, leaves permanent markings on
the teeth.
Stockin
feels keeping fluoride out of formula is one way to help stop
dental fluorosis, but worries some families who have no choice
but to use tap water.
"Who's
gonna pay for the expensive filtration system for a single mom
who's living on minimum wage? Who's going to pay for the
bottled water? Who's going to get the information to the
people who needed it the most?" he said.
When
using formula, the
ADA
recommends parents use fluoride-free bottled water or use
ready-to-feed formula that comes in a can or bottle.
Breast
milk is the safest alternative.
The
ADA
's recommendations are just for infants. The group, as well as
state leaders in
Tennessee
, said putting fluoride in the water supply is safe and
effective
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