USA - Some babies get too much fluoride

Some babies get too much fluoride
Tuesday, October 09, 2007By Morgan Jarema
The Grand Rapids Press
Out of the mouths of babes comes ... fluorosis?
Pediatric dentist Dr. Gary Cook sees it in his office: the faint, tell-tale white lines on teeth that indicate a child has gotten too much fluoride. "You see it and wonder where it comes from," said Cook, who has been in practice since 1981 and sits on the board of the Michigan Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
"You ask, 'Are they using toothpaste too early? Are they swallowing toothpaste? Or is it another, systemic problem such as chronic ear infection?' You have to be a detective."
The American Dental Association says the proper amount of fluoride helps prevent and control tooth decay, and that some exposure to infants' developing teeth also plays a long-term role in prevention.
But it's possible to get too much of a good thing. White streaks on enamel
Fluoride intake above the recommended level for a child's age creates a risk for enamel fluorosis, a condition that affects the way teeth look. In most cases, fluorosis appears as barely noticeable white lines or streaks on tooth enamel and does not affect the function of the teeth.
"Fluorosis itself is not a disease," Cook said. "It's a consequence of overexposure." If it's severe enough, fluorosis can cause mottling, a brown-yellow blotchiness on the teeth. It is not reversible, but there are treatments that can improve appearance, including varnish, microabrasion and veneers.