Fluoride in milk?

[marthamoo]

Ds2 (3) started pre-school today: he will start properly after Easter, initially 2 sessions a week, then 3.

Among the forms I had to fill in was one saying that the pre-school is taking part in a pilot scheme where the children can have fluoridated (is that the right word?) milk. Apparently 15,000 children are drinking it already. There was no pressure on me to sign ds2 up and I decided (for now) to opt out. Vaguely remember some negative publicity about fluoride in water (water in the North West is not fluoridated - and tooth decay rates in children are among the worst in the UK).

Any thoughts? Will google too but would appreciate the collective wisdom of MN. His teacher said to me "if you've any reservations don't sign him up, there's no pressure for him to have it at all - if you want to leave it and speak with your dentist, that's fine." It was on the tip of my tongue to say "Dentist? Nah..I don't make any decisions without consulting Mumsnet first!"

[jane313]

God no. How awful. It may be great for your teeth but what does it do to your body?

[marthamoo]

Bump?

[Mirage]

I'd definately say no.Flouride is toxic & as jane313 says,it may be fab for your teeth,but I wouldn't want to ingest it.I'm dreading the day when the water round here gets flouride in it.

[Tinker]

I wouldn't have signed it. I have, no doubt ill-informed, concerns about flouride. And am glad NW water isn't flouridated/flouridised/flouridey/full of flouride.

[cazzybabs]

We give dd1 flouride drops in her milk. i dramk fluouriated water and had no filings as a child - have 1 now due to living somewhere where there is no flouride and too many fizzy drinks.

[Tinker]

Just found this Bit alarming if wholly accurate

[edam]

This is a topic which really, really generates strong feelings. If you ever want to be shouted at by both sides, write a letter to your local paper on fluoridation of the water! I haven't come across the idea of adding fluoride to milk but as far as fluoride in the water goes, the pros are concerned about dental health and the antis about forced medication of the whole population.
The only proven downside of excessive fluoride is mottling of the teeth - unsightly permanent brown patches. Although anti-fluoride campaigners will claim all sorts of scary stuff, it isn't proven.
If you don't let ds2 eat too much sweet stuff or fizzy drinks, and you ensure he brushes his teeth properly, he should be fine anyway. But fluoride in milk shouldn't do any harm either.

[marthamoo]

Thanks for replies. Still none the wiser, really, but glad I said no!

[jane313]

I had no fillings as a child and a mother that was very anti flouride, so no flouride in my toothpaste either. One of the conpsiracy theories that she read was that flouride was a waste product of producing aluminium. And the aluminium industry gives huge donations every year to the BDA. No idea if ths its true or not! But I love a good conspiracy theory. There was a good article about it all in the Guardian a few years ago its probably archieved on their website. They compared different states in the US that had it in their water or not.

I have 2 friends who are sisters and used to eat toothpaste as children and both got really discoloured teeth and had to have them re-enamaled before they were 20!

[vict17]

We had a fluoride tablet when I was growing up. Never did me or my siblings any harm. My dad's a dentist though so perhaps he was extra strict?!!