USA - New research, recommendations for parents

Pediatricians can help prevent cavities in baby teeth

Parents may not realize this, but tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children aged 6 to 12 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC data shows that about 42% of children as young as 2 and up to age 11 have cavities in their baby teeth.

A study from 2007 found that since the mid-90's, dental caries (cavities) has been on the rise again, particularly in young children between ages 2 and 5.

So the The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is updating its recommendations for preventing caries or tooth decay in children from birth to age 5. After reviewing the latest research, the panel recommends pediatricians, who see children at regular wellness visits anyway, should give:

-- babies as young as 6 months of age oral fluoride supplementation, when there's not enough fluoride in their water supply (that means water fluoridation levels are below .0.6 parts per million)

-- all infants, who have had their baby teeth pop out of their gums, and children periodic fluoride varnish applications, regardless of fluoride levels in their water.

That's a lot of fluoride.