A recent media article suggests that that babies from six months to a year should only have 600ml of fluoridated water. NHMRC has three publications that refer to fluoride intake, none of which make this suggestion:
- Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2004)
- Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand (2006)
- A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Fluoridation (2007)
In November 2007 our review into the safety of fluoridation said:
"Recent Australian research does not show an association between use of infant formulae and dental fluorosis. The critical period for development of dental fluorosis is after the first twelve months of life, by which time the majority of Australian children have ceased exclusive formula consumption. Measurements were made of 49 samples of formula available at supermarkets, finding that the fluoride concentrations have fallen considerably to allow reconstitution with fluoridated water."
Fluoridation of drinking water remains the most effective and socially equitable means of achieving community-wide exposure to the dental caries prevention effects of fluoride.