CHICAGO — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA) are now urging parents to carefully monitor the amount of fluoride given to their babies through tap water, because too much exposure can cause enamel fluorosis, a condition that affects a tooth's surface, a February 7 story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
CDC's Division of Oral Health Director William Maas said in the article, "Since the beginning we knew there was a trade-off between preventing tooth decay and enamel fluorosis." The two organizations still acknowledge the value of having recommended levels of fluoride in tap water for preventing tooth decay in the general population, the article said.
Health officials are recommending that parents use fluoride-free or low-fluoride bottled water instead of tap water when mixing formula, to cut down on infants' exposure to fluoride, according to the story.
The story said about 4 percent of children in the US will develop moderate or severe forms of enamel fluorosis from extended exposure to naturally high fluoride levels in water.
Enamel fluorosis ranges from faint, chalk-like white marks on the surface of a tooth, to lines, to pitting and staining, according to the article.
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