Parents have always debated whether fluoridated water is safe for their babies. After all, so much information is floating around these days that determining if it’s necessary can be challenging.
When it comes to a baby’s health, it’s only standard for parents to worry about the water they use when preparing infant formula. From lead exposure to potentially harmful contaminants, you can’t help but wonder if you can rely on tap water or get nursery water without fluoride instead.
If you want to learn more about the effects of fluoride, then continue reading. This content will discuss fluoride and its impact on infants.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is primarily used in dentistry to improve the enamel’s strength by preventing cavity development. Alternatively, small amounts of this mineral are added to public water supplies in the country, which is a part of a process known as water fluoridation.
Community water fluoridation is an effective way to save money regarding dental health. Since 1945, hundreds of cities have begun water fluoridation, contributing to a drastic decline in cases of tooth decay.
However, excessive fluoride can have detrimental effects on a baby’s body, primarily their dental health. Let’s take a closer look at the effects of this mineral and why bottled water brands are now coming up with fluoride-free bottled water.
Effects of Fluoride on a Baby’s Dental Health
Pros
- Effectively prevents tooth decay
- Hinders plaque buildup
- Boosts the enamel’s remineralization
Cons
- Possible discoloration of the baby’s teeth.
- Causes tiny circular pinpricks or crooked depressions on the baby’s permanent teeth.
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Like anything else, excessive fluoride exposure can cause a health risk, especially for babies. That’s why many parents prefer bottled water brands that manufacture fluoride-free bottled water for consumers.
Basic Information About Dental Fluorosis
A person’s mouth contains bacteria from the sugars in our food and drinks. Fluoride helps shield a person’s teeth by preventing tooth decay and other dental health benefits that you’ll find valuable. However, there are times when consuming excessive levels of fluoride can have adverse effects on a person’s health, especially for babies.
Dental fluorosis is an apparent change in appearance on a person’s tooth enamel surface. Although it doesn’t cause any pain, it tends to cause discoloration in the person’s teeth, leaving them with white, lacy markings, which can be quite challenging to notice.
How to Protect Your Baby’s Teeth Without Leading to Fluorosis
Consider Breastfeeding Your Baby
Besides choosing fluoride-free water for mixing your child’s baby formula, breastfeeding is the best way to protect your child’s teeth. It’s highly advisable to provide your child with either human milk or infant formula until they reach six months. Afterward, consider giving them solid foods as you slowly train them to drink water independently.
Brush Them Thoroughly
Once you notice that your child’s teeth are slowly coming in, it’s best to brush them thoroughly twice a day to prevent tooth decay. You can also ask for directions from a dentist or a physician.
Choose Fluoride-Free Bottled Water
There are only a few brands of bottled water that promote fluoride-free products. So, choosing purified water bottles that don’t contain as much fluoride as your baby needs is best. You can choose natural spring water or purified water that indicates fluoride content.
Monitor Your Child’s Brushing
As soon as you notice your child is capable of brushing their teeth, ensure that they or only use the appropriate amount of toothpaste. Check to see if it’s not more than a smear so that there will only be trace amounts of fluoride on their teeth.
Start Regular Visits With The Dentist
You may start visiting your child’s dentist on their first birthday. The dental clinic can help monitor your baby’s teeth and even inform you about a few ways to care for their oral and dental health.
Refrain From Giving Excessive Amounts of Sweets
As your baby starts to grow, they’ll soon develop a taste for other sources of nutrition besides milk. So, if that happens, it’s highly advisable to refrain from giving them any starchy foods. Instead, you can provide them with sugar-free treats to prevent tooth decay.
Check If The Water Is Fluoridated
Since most water supplies have added fluoride, it’s best to perform tests to determine if fluoride levels are too high for your baby. If you can’t perform tests, you can buy bottled water instead. Many bottled water brands have barely added fluoride to their products. So, you can guarantee that your baby won’t get exposed to excessive fluoride consumption. Some products even indicate if they contain fluoride, making it easier to choose the right products.
What Type of Water to Use for Your Baby’s Formula
There are many brands of bottled water that parents can choose when mixing infant formula. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these options.
Tap Water
Tap water from a public source in the country is primarily safe, even when used for baby formula. However, it’s essential to remember that the water from these sources often contains naturally occurring fluoride, which may put your child at risk of developing fluorosis.
Well Water
If you only have underground well water as your primary water source, then it’s always best to be cautious. Experts would agree that well water may contain potentially harmful pathogens that may cause adverse effects on your child’s health. Boiling water may not even suffice to address the risk of eliminating bacteria or reducing fluoride content.
Mineral Water
One of the safer options that you can consider is mineral water. It often comes in natural spring water with naturally occurring minerals that can be ideal for your child’s health. Manufacturers often get their bottled drinking water supply directly from sparkling or still waters.
Purified Water
Another option on the list is purified water. Like other bottled water types, mineral water is safe for your babies. However, unlike mineral water, purified water undergoes additional steps to eliminate any impurities to keep bottled water safe.
Fluoridated Water
Although parents can also use fluoridated water for making infant formula, doctors say that it’s not something you should use during every feed because of its fluoride content. Most infant formulas contain the right amount of naturally occurring fluoride your baby needs. Adding more might cause adverse effects on your child’s health. That’s why many parents often choose fluoride-free brands of bottled water to protect their babies.
Distilled Water
The last on the list is distilled water. Distilled water goes through the most stringent distillation process to eliminate any potentially harmful mineral content and other solid residues from the water source.
Other Considerations When Mixing Infant Formula with Drinking Water
Although it’s generally safe to let your babies have bottled water, it’s still best to boil water in advance so that you’ll have drinking water handy in case your baby gets hungry. But aside from mixing the formula with the drinking water, are there any other tips you need to remember?
Keep Your Hands Clean
Always remember to sanitize your hands, especially when handling bottled water. You’ll never know what pathogens you may have contracted from touching objects. So, cleaning your hands before drinking water is essential, especially for babies.
Sterilize Everything
Besides keeping your hands clean, it’s also important to sterilize the glass jars or jugs with lids that you use to store purified or tap water. Consider pouring boiling water into them and rinsing them with boiled water. Remember not to use untreated tap water, or your efforts will only be in vain.
Never Store Any Remaining Used Formula
Meanwhile, if your baby has leftovers, keeping them from sitting on the counter for up to two hours is best. If there are any unused bottles of infant formula, then you can keep them inside the fridge for at least 24 hours to keep them from getting contaminated. This way, you’ll know which is the old one and which is not.
Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water
Most communities in the country have fluoridated water in their water supplies. Although it’s highly controlled, there’s still a chance that your baby may be exposed to more fluoride levels than their body can handle.
Nowadays, infant formulas already have the right amount of fluoride levels in their composition. So, adding more might already be excessive for your baby’s health.
Choosing fluoride-free purified water is an excellent choice to ensure good dental health. Another way is to choose bottled drinking water bottles with low to zero fluoride content.
Is Fluoride-Free Bottled Water Right For Infants? (Conclusion)
Like anything else, it’s essential to speak with your baby’s pediatrician to know if fluoride-free water brands suit your baby. One crucial thing to remember is that babies don’t need purified water until they reach more than six months of age.
So, until then, choose potable drinking water that will work well with your baby’s infant formula. It’s also best to get a more reliable source of filtered tap water that are completely fluoride free before letting your child drink it. Parents can also consider treating the municipal tap water by boiling them before bringing it with them when they leave their house. Meanwhile, if your home gets its water from below ground, then choosing bottled water manufacturers without any fluoride added is the best choice.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or anything else, please leave a comment below.
