Expert warns of fluoride toothpaste use for toddlers

FLUORIDE toothpaste should never be used on children under two years of age, a dental expert has warned.

Professor Denis O’Mullane, of UCC, said while there were many positive aspects to fluoridation, only ordinary tap water and a brush should be used to clean the teeth of toddlers because the toothpaste, when swallowed, can result in teeth discolouration.

Prof O’Mullane, speaking at the Irish Science Teachers’ Association (ISTA) conference, said fluoridation had brought about an extraordinary improvement in dental health since it was introduced here almost 40 years ago.

A survey in the Cork/Kerry region in 1962 showed 15-year-olds had an average of 10 decayed, missing, or filled, teeth. The figure now was three. He also saidthere was no evidence to link fluoridation to general ill-health, or cancers.

However, Prof O’Mullane said there was evidence of tooth discolouration from the use of fluoridated water compounded by inappropriate use of fluoride toothpaste. UCC’s oral health services

research centre has been carrying out pioneering studies in the field during the last 20 years.

Prof O’Mullane, an expert consultant to the Fluoridation Forum which reported to Health Minister Micheál Martin, also called for proper labelling of toothpaste so people could know exactly the amount of fluoride it contained.