Fluoride Recommendations

Very few communities in New Jersey have water fluoridation.  As such, the benefits of fluoride for the prevention of tooth decay must be obtained through other means. For children, this is in the form of an ingestible source, typically a vitamin with fluoride added, or simple fluoride drops. To avoid excess fluoride consumption the following recommendations have been made. It breaks down into three columns of possible external sources of fluoride consumption, such as bottled water, or areas where fluoride occurs naturally in drinking water.

Age <0.3 ppm other sources of fluroide 0.3-0.6 ppm other sources of fluroide >0.6 ppm other source of fluoride
Birth to 6 Months None None None
6 months to 3 years 0.25 mg/day None None
3 to 6 years 0.50 mg/day 0.25 mg/day None
6 to 16 years 1.00 mg/day 0.50 mg/day None

It should be noted iingestible fluoride is only of benefit when the teeth are being formed and the fluoride can become incorporated within the enamel .  After teeth have erupted, ingestible fluoride is of no use, and only topical applications of fluoride are of benefit, such as toothpaste and/or fluoride applications or rinses.