Fluoride in Infant Formulas
In October of 2006 the Food and Drug Administration started allowing bottlers of drinking water to claim that fluoride in their products may reduce tooth decay.1 According to the FDA notification, bottled water containing greater than 0.6 and up to 1.0 mg/L (0.6 to 1.0 parts-per-million) total fluoride can use the claim language: "Drinking fluoridated water may reduce the risk of [dental caries or tooth decay]." The FDA pointed out, however, that this health claim was not intended for use on bottled water products specifically marketed for use by infants. The reason for this restriction was a concern that using fluoridated water to reconstitute liquid-concentrate or powdered baby formulas would result in an overall fluoride level higher than what is established as optimal for teeth. Too much fluoride can result in tooth discoloration called fluorosis, a harmless condition where tooth enamel becomes discolored with white or brown mottled spots or blotches.
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