Fluoride Supplements

Dentists have long known that fluoride supplements reduce children's risk of tooth decay. They also increase the risk for a condition called fluorosis. A new Norwegian study supports these facts.

Researchers from the University of Bergen, Norway, and the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, did the study. It involved 660 children who lived in Bergen. Dentists examined them for tooth decay and fluorosis. Fluorosis is a condition caused by swallowing too much fluoride. It usually involves white spots or streaks on the teeth. They often are not noticeable.

All of the children's families were mailed questionnaires. The survey asked about the children's past use of fluoridated toothpaste and fluoride pills.

Norway does not add fluoride to its water. Its guidelines for fluoride use in children are the same as those in the United States.