I wrote some time ago about the new recommendations regarding fluoride in babies, and was surprised to hear recently (not really surprised), that some health care programs in our country continue to teach about the importance of using fluoridated water for infants. News hits the headlines, but is quickly forgotten.Last year, the American Dental Association (ADA) announced that infants from birth to a year of age should not be given formula mixed with fluoridated water. They concluded that not only does this fail to protect infants teeth - it can actually damage them, causing a cosmetic problem termed "fluorosis." Worse yet, it appears that infants given fluoridated water are more likely to develop osteosarcoma, a bone cancer most commonly seen in adolescent boys. Though osteosarcoma is rare, it is the second leading cause of childhood cancers following blood related cancers.
Action point: Talk to anyone you know that has an infant on formula and make sure they are aware of this. Formula should be mixed with bottled water, or tap water that has been filtered to remove fluoride. As for the bottle, choose glass or bisphenol A free plastic (available at stores such as Whole Foods.) More about that in another post.
See our blog entry Water,Water Everywhere, What Is Safe to Drink? for a discussion of other possible carcinogens in our water supply, and what we can do to protect our children. For further information on cancer prevention, visit our web site.
