Fluoride supplements are controversial, having both strong advocates and opponents.  The American Dental Association stands by its findings that fluoride reduces cavities while the FDA has started to put warning labels on toothpaste bottles that contain fluoride.  It is up to you to decide what supplements you believe are right for your family and you should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of supplementing fluoride carefully.

Advantages of supplementing fluoride (as per the ADA)

Fluoride has been shown to reduce cavities and tooth decay for the past few decades.
It is said that fluoride reduces cavities in both children and adults and also helps to prevent tooth decay in its early stages.  The ADA recognizes that some are weary of the positive claims made by those who support the supplementation of fluoride and that that "Fluoride is like any other nutrient; it is safe and effective when used appropriately."

There are a number of ways to get the fluoride that the ADA recommends.  Many cities now have fluoridated tap water (this means that the fluoride supplement is mixed right into the drinking supply).  Did you know that fluoride is present naturally in all water sources? Community water fluoridation has now been in existence for over 50 years.  Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the fluoride content water to the recommended level oral health experts say if needed for optimal dental health. The recommended community water fluoridation level is 0.7-1.2 parts fluoride per million parts water. Over the past fifty years water fluoridation has been shown to be an extremely effective and inexpensive means of obtaining the fluoride necessary for optimal tooth decay prevention.  However, not all community water sources have a fluoridated water source. For individuals who do not benefit from fluoridated water, there are other supplements available.

Other sources for fluoride supplements include an actual supplement taken orally, toothpaste, mouth rinse or fluoride applied professionally at the dentist's office.

Fluoride supplements are designed to play an active and convenient role in your overall oral care maintenance.  Fluoride works silently to fight tooth decay in a safe, convenient and effective manner.  If you are still concerned about the benefits of fluoride voice your concerns with your dental health professional.

According to the ADA "Dietary fluoride supplements (tablets, drops or lozenges) are available only by prescription and are intended for use by children ages six months to 16 years living in non-fluoridated areas".   There are different dosing directions depending on your child's age and the concentration of the child's drinking water.  It is important to talk to your dentist about the specific needs of your children.  It is said that optimal fluoride is necessary from the age of 6 months to when a child turns 16 years old. Taking fluoride supplements become more costly than water fluoridation and are certainly less effective on a wide-spread scale (such as to be used as a public health measure).

Disadvantages of supplementing fluoride (warnings by the FDA)

If you look on the back of your tube of fluoridated toothpaste you will find this warning: "Keep out of reach of children less than 6 years of age.  If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."

Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis.  Fluorosis is caused by fluoride that stains teeth from the inside. Perhaps dentists were wrong in assuming that fluoride prevented cavities.  Instead what is preventing cavities is the calcium, magnesium and other teeth building components in the fluorinated water supplies.