The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendd that pediatricians prescribe fluoride to a child as soon as the first tooth appears.
The association dismissed concerns about the safety by clarifying that a certain amount of fluoride is essential for the teeth's health development. In 2011, the AAP supported the guidelines proposed by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention on fluoride use and included these guidelines into their information materials.
Report authors Dr. Melinda B. Clark amd Dr. Rebecca L. Slayton conceded that while fluoride may have its benefits,it can also pose some risks for children. Some of the risks linked to excessive use of fluoride are mottling of the teeth (fluorosis) and spaces or lesions on the teeth. The Environmental Protection Agency lowered its recommendations of fluoride levels in drinking water to 0.7 milligrams or less per liter. In the past two decades, researchers have seen a rise on fluorosis and observed it in 41 percent of adolescents in the United States.
Other recommendations made by the AAP include using fluoridated toothpaste once tooth eruption is observed in children. Children below three years old should be given grain-sized toothpaste for brushing and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste once they turn three. Parents should also make it a point to give the correct amount of toothpaste to their child and assist them in brushing their teeth.
A fluoride varnish may be recommended every three to six months and should start once a tooth is seen.
Parents can use over-the-counter fluoride rinse for children older than six years. However, for younger ones, it is not recommended due to the high risk of taking in more than the recommended quantity of the fluoride.
Details of the new guidelines were published in the journal of Pediatrics.
