Fluoride in diet

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Diet - fluoride

The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends the following dietary intake for fluoride:

Infants

• 0 - 6 months: 0.01 milligrams per day (mg/day)
• 7 - 12 months: 0.5 mg/day

Children

• 1 - 3 years: 0.7 mg/day
• 4 - 8 years: 1.0 mg/day
• 9 - 13 years: 2.0 mg/day

Adolescents and Adults

• Males ages 14 to 18 years: 3.0 mg/day
• Males over 18 years: 4.0 mg/day
• Females over 14 years: 3.0 mg/day

The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from the food guide plate.

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Specific recommendations depend on age and gender, Ask your health care provider which amount is best for you.

To help make sure infants and children do not get too much fluoride:

• Ask your health care provider about the type of water to use in concentrated or powdered formulas.
• Do not use any fluoride supplement without talking to your health care provider.
• Avoid using fluoride toothpaste in infants younger than 2 years.
• Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste in children older than 2 years.
• Avoid fluoride mouth rinses in children younger than 6 years.

Review Date: 06/14/2011
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Jeffrey Heit, MD, Internist with special emphasis on preventive health, fitness and nutrition, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (3/22/2011).

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).