UK - Consider bottle-fed babies
Consider bottle-fed babies
Date: 05 October 2009
School Lane
Bradshaw
I've been following with interest the recent story regarding water fluoridation in Calderdale and wondered whether anyone had considered bottle-fed infants in the debate?
In November 2006 the US Public Health Service's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Dental Association, released a recommendation that infant formula NOT be made with fluoridated water, following the NRC review. The ADA states: "If liquid or powdered concentrate infant formula is the primary source of nutrition, mix with water that is fluoride free, including water that is labelled purified, demineralised, deionised, distilled or reverse osmosis filtered water."
Fluoride exposure during the first year of life increases the risk of dental fluorosis far more than at any other age. The risk continues until four or six years of age.
Fluoride is already added to infant formula at a much higher level than contained in breasmilk, add fluoridated water and the levels are a million miles away from what a normal infant should consume.
So are all bottle-feeding mums going to be expected to use bottled water to make feeds? (ensuring it is a low-fluoride brand!) Who would pay for this for mums who can't afford to? Would all mums even be bothered or would they just risk it? Another option is ready-made formula, again far more expensive than powdered and not an option for many, Fluorosis weakens the teeth and causes decay and the risk is as much to the permanent teeth as it is to the baby teeth, requiring ongoing expensive dental treatment.
Fluorosis can also have psychological effects, causing self-consciousness, reduced social interaction and employment success.
Lastly it is internationally accepted that dental fluorosis is the first outward sign of fluoride poisoning and therefore not limited to teeth.
Will this addressed before a decision about fluoridation?
Charlotte Young
Date: 05 October 2009
School Lane
Bradshaw
I've been following with interest the recent story regarding water fluoridation in Calderdale and wondered whether anyone had considered bottle-fed infants in the debate?
In November 2006 the US Public Health Service's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Dental Association, released a recommendation that infant formula NOT be made with fluoridated water, following the NRC review. The ADA states: "If liquid or powdered concentrate infant formula is the primary source of nutrition, mix with water that is fluoride free, including water that is labelled purified, demineralised, deionised, distilled or reverse osmosis filtered water."
Fluoride exposure during the first year of life increases the risk of dental fluorosis far more than at any other age. The risk continues until four or six years of age.
Fluoride is already added to infant formula at a much higher level than contained in breasmilk, add fluoridated water and the levels are a million miles away from what a normal infant should consume.
So are all bottle-feeding mums going to be expected to use bottled water to make feeds? (ensuring it is a low-fluoride brand!) Who would pay for this for mums who can't afford to? Would all mums even be bothered or would they just risk it? Another option is ready-made formula, again far more expensive than powdered and not an option for many, Fluorosis weakens the teeth and causes decay and the risk is as much to the permanent teeth as it is to the baby teeth, requiring ongoing expensive dental treatment.
Fluorosis can also have psychological effects, causing self-consciousness, reduced social interaction and employment success.
Lastly it is internationally accepted that dental fluorosis is the first outward sign of fluoride poisoning and therefore not limited to teeth.
Will this addressed before a decision about fluoridation?
Charlotte Young
posted by Bill at
9:58 AM
1 Comments:
This is a HUGE issue that no one seems to be warning parents about. we had to switch to formula when our girl was 4 months and fortunately, we knew about the fluoride risks so we buy a very low-fluoride bottled water from Maine.
I warned all my other parent friends and was surprised that they actually took me seriously. Our doctor was another story, she's given up trying to get us to give our baby fluoride. I don't understand why pediatricians don't read the warnings....
By
kate, at 08 October, 2009
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