Do infant juices contain too much fluoride?

Jan 30, 2011

Fruit juices commonly consumed by infants and children contain fluoride, some at levels higher than recommended for public water supplies that can damage teeth, according to an antifluoride group.

In research to be presented next month at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in San Diego, 90 samples of three different flavors (apple, pear, and grape) from three manufacturers were tested. All contained fluoride at concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 1.81 parts per million (ppm), according to the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation.

"Children who consume excessive amounts of juice per day may be ingesting more fluoride than the recommended daily intake," the researchers reported.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended lowering "optimal" water fluoride levels to 0.7 ppm to decrease the epidemic of fluoride-discolored teeth (dental fluorosis) affecting more than 41% of adolescents. Many cities are complying; some consider ending fluoridation, the advocacy group said.

However, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard Koh, MD, MPH, stressed fluoridation's advantages. "One of water fluoridation's biggest advantages is that it benefits all residents of a community -- at home, work, school, or play," he said. "And fluoridation's effectiveness in preventing tooth decay is not limited to children but extends throughout life, resulting in improved oral health."

Water fluoride, along with fluoride-containing pesticide residues, is contaminating the food supply and harming children, said Paul Beeber, president of the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation. "Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor required for healthy teeth," he said. "Studies show fluoride ingestion doesn't reduce tooth decay."

Earlier research shows all infant formulas, whether ready-to-feed, concentrated, or organic, contain some fluoride (Journal of the American Dental Association, October 2009, Vol. 140:10: 1228-1236).

The ADA continues to endorse fluoridation of community water supplies as safe and effective for preventing tooth decay.