Do the parents of your youngest patients know that serving their preschoolers bottled water instead of tap water can actually increase the risk for tooth decay?
According to the ADA, "The majority of bottled waters on the market do not contain optimal levels (0.7-1.2 ppm) of fluoride. And, some types of home water treatment systems can reduce the fluoride levels in water supplies potentially decreasing the decay-preventive effects of optimally fluoridated water" (http://www.ada.org/public/topics/bottled_water.asp).
Dental Practice Report ran a story entitled "Spotty Record on Oral Health" in the June 2007 issue. The article cites Trends in oral Health Status – United States, 1994-1998 and 1999-2004, a publication by the CDC, as noting a 24 to 28-percent increase in decay in preschoolers’ primary teeth. DPR suggests that preschoolers drink less water, and much of the water they drink is bottled or filtered. Since bottled water is not fluorinated, and because filtration systems can remove fluoride from tap water, preschoolers do not intake sufficient fluoride to ward off cavities.
As a general dentist, family dentist, or pedodontist, you can help your youngest patients by informing their parents about these findings and offering fluoride treatments. Providing this information is a public service, and a way to keep your patients smiling for a lifetime.