Here is my opinion as a dentist AND as a mom: my latest article for Weekly Biz Japanese newspaper....
What’s In Your Baby’s Water?
After last month's article, “What’s In Your Water?” I’ve gotten questions asking if it’s OK to
use NYC tap water in baby formula powder.
I know there is always a lot of debate with this question. What I will
tell you here is what I believe as a dentist and as a mom.
There is a
concern about enamel fluorosis that some holistic websites talk about. This type of fluorosis is usually associated
with a higher level of fluoride that naturally occurs in certain local water
supplies. The developing teeth may have
some faint white or brownish spots or lines. NYC tap water has a small amount
of fluoride added to it. While there IS
a possible risk of mild fluorosis that may occur if too much fluoride is
swallowed, the actual appearance of fluorosis is minimal while the beneficial
effects of having teeth more resistant to cavities outweigh the possible
cosmetic concerns.
Mother’s breast milk is best and preferred for
a baby until at least 1 year old and if you’re using powdered formula, it’s OK
to use NYC tap water. Brita, a popular
water filter system does not filter out fluoride. I’ve used Brita filtered tap water for my 2
kids growing up and I still recommend filtered tap water for parents. Bottled
“baby water” with fluoride added can be purchased at stores as well if you are
unsure about your home’s water pipes. If
there is a concern about the possible mild fluorosis then there’s always baby bottled
water without fluoride.
In my
opinion as a dentist and as a mom, the slight possibility of mild fluorosis on
my kid’s teeth is better than a lifetime of cavities, fillings, drilling and
possible root canals and crowns.
With both
my kids, my mother in law took care of them when I went back to work full time. She grew up in Taiwan where it was usual to boil water
before drinking it. With my kids’
powdered formula, she used the Brita filter AND she boiled the water before cooling
it down to use it for my children. I was
born and raised in NYC and personally don’t believe that boiling tap water does
anything beneficial so I just used Brita filtered water. I don’t know about Taiwan water and what’s in it that needed
to be boiled before using but I’ve always drank non filtered tap water myself.
The
American Dental Association recommends that children have their first dental
visit by age1. That is a good time for
parents to discuss these concerns with their dentist. What’s better is to have the discussion even
before 1 year. In my office, when my
patient tells me they are expecting, I will discuss these and other questions
with them and give them pamphlets on how to take care of their teeth while
they’re expecting as well as how to take care of their baby’s teeth. Knowing what’s in your water as well as your
baby’s water makes sense!
