Flouride

For over fifty years, the Canadian Dental Association has continuously endorsed the fluoridation of community water supplies and the use of fluoride-containing products as safe and effective measures for preventing tooth decay. Fluoride and Fluoridation contains resources that provide important facts and answer a myriad of questions. New information and resources will be added to this area as they become available. In the following sections, you will find the latest information about fluoride and fluoridation.

Parents and caregivers should carefully monitor the use of all fluoride-containing dental products by children under age six because ingestion of higher than recommended levels of fluoride by children has been associated with an increased risk of very mild to mild dental fluorosis, in developing, unerupted teeth. This type of fluorosis is a cosmetic effect with no known health consequences.

To get the optimal benefits of fluoride, place only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on a young child's toothbrush at each brushing. Young children should be supervised while brushing and taught to spit out, rather than swallow, the toothpaste. Consult with your Ottawa family dentist or physician if you are considering using fluoride toothpaste before the child reaches age two. Additionally, the use of fluoride mouth rinses is not recommended for children under six years of age because they may swallow the rinse.