Head Start

Should infants and children receive fluoride supplements to prevent tooth decay?

Infants and children ages 6 months and over living in communities in which the drinking water supply doesn't have enough fluoride should receive fluoride supplements. A dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority needs to recommend the amount and type of supplements.

Fluoride supplements may be recommended by a health professional in accordance with guidelines for infants or children. Examples of fluoride supplements include drops and tablets. Health professionals base their recommendation for fluoride supplements on the child's risk for developing tooth decay and the known level of fluoride in the drinking water. No infant or child should be given fluoride supplements unless the supplements have been prescribed by a dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority.

Before fluoride supplements are prescribed, the health professional will need to know how much fluoride is in the infant's or child's drinking water. The health professional will also need to know if the infant or child gets fluoride from any other sources. All sources of drinking water should be tested. These may include community water supply, including water from homes with water-filtration systems; well water; and bottled water. Some water-filtration systems filter out fluoride, but charcoal filtration systems usually do not. Bottled water usually does not contain enough fluoride.

If state pharmacy regulations require a prescription for each child, then the child's health professional must write a prescription for the type of fluoride supplement and the dosage. If parents give their consent, the Head Start program can allow a nurse or another staff member to give the child fluoride supplements.

Performance Standards

1304.20(c)(3)(i)

1304.22(c)(2)

1304.22(c)(3)

1304.22(c)(4)

References

American Dental Association, Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. 1995. Caries diagnosis and risk assessment: A review of preventive strategies and management. Journal of the American Dental Association 126(Special supplement):1S-24S.

Bickel HW Jr. 2001. Fluoride supplements: By prescription only! Head Start Bulletin 71, p. 30.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2001. Recommendations for using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Recommendations and Reports 50(RR-14):1-42.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. 2001. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: Diagnosis and Management of Dental Caries Throughout Life, March 26-28, 2001. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

O'Meara C. 1990. Fluoride Information Manual: Strength and Growth with Head Start. Kansas City, MO: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Region VII.

Wilson A. 1990. Standards in maternal and child oral health. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 50(6):432-438.

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	Library Publications MCHB-Funded Projects Grants Administration TOHSS Head Start Alert Newsletter FAQs Links Bright Futures Toolbox Electronic Lists & Newsletters Links About Us FAQs Contact	A⁺ a^- Head Start Should infants and children receive fluoride supplements to prevent tooth decay? Infants and children ages 6 months and over living in communities in which the drinking water supply doesn't have enough fluoride should receive fluoride supplements. A dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority needs to recommend the amount and type of supplements. Fluoride supplements may be recommended by a health professional in accordance with guidelines for infants or children. Examples of fluoride supplements include drops and tablets. Health professionals base their recommendation for fluoride supplements on the child's risk for developing tooth decay and the known level of fluoride in the drinking water. No infant or child should be given fluoride supplements unless the supplements have been prescribed by a dentist, a physician, or another licensed health professional with state authority. Before fluoride supplements are prescribed, the health professional will need to know how much fluoride is in the infant's or child's drinking water. The health professional will also need to know if the infant or child gets fluoride from any other sources. All sources of drinking water should be tested. These may include community water supply, including water from homes with water-filtration systems; well water; and bottled water. Some water-filtration systems filter out fluoride, but charcoal filtration systems usually do not. Bottled water usually does not contain enough fluoride. If state pharmacy regulations require a prescription for each child, then the child's health professional must write a prescription for the type of fluoride supplement and the dosage. If parents give their consent, the Head Start program can allow a nurse or another staff member to give the child fluoride supplements. Performance Standards 1304.20(c)(3)(i) 1304.22(c)(2) 1304.22(c)(3) 1304.22(c)(4) References American Dental Association, Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. 1995. Caries diagnosis and risk assessment: A review of preventive strategies and management. Journal of the American Dental Association 126(Special supplement):1S-24S. Bickel HW Jr. 2001. Fluoride supplements: By prescription only! Head Start Bulletin 71, p. 30. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2001. Recommendations for using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Recommendations and Reports 50(RR-14):1-42. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. 2001. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: Diagnosis and Management of Dental Caries Throughout Life, March 26-28, 2001. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. O'Meara C. 1990. Fluoride Information Manual: Strength and Growth with Head Start. Kansas City, MO: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Region VII. Wilson A. 1990. Standards in maternal and child oral health. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 50(6):432-438. Share \|
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