I heard that fluoride is a poison, won’t it hurt my child?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in almost all water supplies. The level is adjusted to the optimal amount to prevent tooth decay. The amount of fluoride in toothpaste is the same for adult and children’s toothpastes; however, the children’s toothpastes contain flavoring. It is important to use only a smear of toothpaste the size of the child’s pinky fingernail (grain of rice, or pea) and not to allow them to swallow large amounts of the toothpaste. Fluoride in varnish stays on the teeth and is incorporates into the enamel.

Like all substances, fluoride in the small amounts proscribed for drinking water (0.07ppm) and toothpaste (<1.1 mg%) is helpful in preventing dental caries. Fluoride is found naturally in excessive amounts (65–95 ppm) in the water in some parts of the world (China, India, Rift Valley of Africa). In those areas, the water is treated to decrease the fluoride levels.