openPR Logo
Press release

Fluoride in Infant Formula Can Damage Babies’ Teeth, study shows

06-12-2019 09:16 AM CET | Health & Medicine

Press release from: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc

Infant formula mixed with optimally fluoridated water (0.7 mg/L) increases fluorosis risk (discolored or pitted teeth) for six-month-olds and younger, reports Harriehausen et al. in The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (January 2019).

Fluoride, the most celebrated tooth decay preventive, is controversial because safety and efficacy studies are questionable. But even fluoridation proponents admit “The primary adverse effects associated with chronic, excess fluoride intake are enamel and skeletal fluorosis,” according to the Institute of Medicine; Food and Nutrition Board; Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes (1997)

Dental fluorosis – white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth – now afflicts 65% of US Teens.

Harriehausen tested seven concentrated infant formulas: powdered Similac Advance; powdered Similac Sensitive; powdered Similac Spit Up; liquid concentrate Similac Advance; powdered Enfamil Infant; powdered Enfamil Gentlease; and powdered Gerber Soy. Ready-to-feed formula are reported elsewhere to have fluoride levels ranging from 0.08 to 0.32 parts per million (ppm) fluoride.

Harriehausen found that “using optimally fluoridated water (0.7 ppm) indicated that more infants are likely to exceed Adequate Intake and Upper Limit (with infants aged two-, four-, and six-months being affected the most), thereby placing infants at great risk for dental fluorosis, which is consistent with other studies.”

The adequate intake of fluoride to avoid moderate enamel fluorosis for infants up to 6-months-old is a mere 0.01 milligram a day – which is the level already in all infant formulas, concentrated, ready-to-feed or organic.
Many dental, health and government groups advise to avoid routine mixing of infant formula with fluoridated water but fail to adequately inform the public seeming to protect fluoride’s image rather than infants’ teeth.

Harriehausen reports that significantly more infants, particularly those under six months old, exceed fluoride’s upper limit when consuming formula reconstituted with 0.7 ppm water, which increases the incidence and severity of enamel fluorosis.

The CDC described moderate/severe fluorosis as “teeth have larger white spots and, in the rare, severe form, rough, pitted surfaces.”
The American Dental Association description of moderate fluorosis: “All tooth surfaces affected; marked wear on biting surfaces; brown stain may be present.”

Many other studies support Harriehausen’s conclusions:

Beltran-Aguilar and colleagues found children, even in sub-optimally (less than 0.7 ppm) fluoridated areas, with moderate and severe fluorosed teeth which is characterized by crumbling or pitting teeth that usually decay faster. "This severity was not observed in the 1930s among children drinking water with less than 1.3 ppm fluoride," the authors report.

Levy reported in 2010: “Results suggest that prevalence of mild dental fluorosis could be reduced by avoiding ingestion of large quantities of fluoride from reconstituted powdered concentrate infant formula and fluoridated dentifrice”

Zohoori reported in 2012: “Some infant foods/drinks, when reconstituted with fluoridated water, may result in a F intake in infants above the suggested optimum range (0.05-0.07 mg F/kg body weight) and therefore may put infants at risk of developing dental fluorosis.”

Marshal reported in 2002: “Infant beverages, particularly infant formulas prepared with fluoridated water, can increase the risk of fluorosis in primary teeth.”

Brothwell in 2003: “Breastfeeding for > 6 months may protect children from developing fluorosis in the permanent incisors.”

Public Health Dentist Mascarenhas reported in 2000 that parents should avoid fluoridated water for infant formula preparation to prevent fluorosis.

Communities must cease adding fluoride chemicals into babies via the water supply without warning their parents of how it might adversely affect babies' new teeth.
ENDIT


NYSCOF
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
President Paul Beeber, JD
nyscof@aol.com

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF) was founded in the 1970's to effectively thwart a state-wide fluoridation mandate. We continue educating about fluoride's adverse effects which are rarely publicized.

This release was published on openPR.

Permanent link to this press release:

Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.

You can edit or delete your press release Fluoride in Infant Formula Can Damage Babies’ Teeth, study shows here

News-ID: 1772001 • Views:

More Releases from New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc

Kids Eat Too Much Fluoride From Foods, Studies Show
Kids ingest excessive fluoride, studies show, not just from toothpaste, but from their foods, making water fluoridation unnecessary and unsafe. University of Indiana researchers analyzed foods typical three- to five-year-olds eat and found diet significantly contributes to children's daily fluoride intake. This and many other studies show, children risk dental fluorosis from their food, alone(3a-L). "...because the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis (white spotted, yellow or brown permanently stained teeth)
Study: Fluoridation Benefits Doubtful
Achieving cavity-free status has little to do with fluoride intake, reports a study in the Fall 2008 Journal of Public Health Dentistry. The ongoing Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS) begun in 1992, follows a cohort of children from birth. Researchers measure fluoride use and ingestion, count cavities and document fluorosis – white spotted, yellow and/or brown stained teeth – the outward sign of fluoride over-ingestion. IFS researchers report, "The benefits
Fluoridation Opposition: growing in numbers, respectability & science
Over 1300 additional professionals signed onto the Fluoride Action Network's (FAN) statement calling for an end to fluoridation as more evidence emerges to condemn fluoridation. Now over 1,860 professionals urge Congress to stop water fluoridation and hold Congressional hearings, citing scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html Since the first FAN August 2007 statement, the following has
Fluoridation and Tea Do Not Mix, Studies Continue to Show
Fluoride added to tap water (fluoridation) puts tea drinkers at risk of damaged bones, discolored teeth and soft tissue harm, studies show. Tea has naturally high fluoride levels. Excess fluoride can weaken bones and discolor children’s un-erupted teeth. When fluoridated water is used to make tea, fluoride levels consumed can be health damaging. Four cups, of 20 teas sampled, delivered 0.8 to 1.8 mg of fluoride, when

All 5 Releases