Vol. 473 No. 4
137 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at the fears that fluoride in toothpaste is causing discolouration of children's teeth; and the action, if any, he proposes to take in this regard. [25201/96]
Limerick East): Recent evidence suggests that in western industrialised countries many children begin to use a flouride toothpaste regularly from a young age, in many instances before the age of one year, when there is a greater likelihood of their ingesting some of the toothpaste used at each brushing.
Studies have shown that use of fluoride toothpaste from an early age is associated with higher levels of very mild fluorosis or discolouration, and this tends to support the view that infants and young children inadvertently swallow a considerable proportion of the toothpaste that they use. The fluorisis recorded in these studies is of a very mild grade, not aesthetically compromising and could only be recorded by specially trained dentists using special lighting conditions. Such studies are carried out in this country on a regular basis and confirm the findings of studies in other countries.
Properly formulated toothpastes should continue to be used by the whole population. Parents and guardians should supervise young children up to six years of age when toothbrushing and only a pea-size amount of toothpaste should be used.
My Department, through the health promotion unit, continues to support dental health campaigns aimed at parents and young children which promote this message.
