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SALT LAKE CITY -- National reports have been coming out showing a rise in the number of young children getting cavities. Some dentists say one often overlooked contributing factor could be bottled water.
People who give their kids mostly bottled water to drink often say it's the healthy choice. But state dental director Steven Steed says most bottled water is lacking fluoride.
"Drinking bottled water tends to prohibit those kids from getting the advantage of getting that decay preventing measure," Steed said.
A state survey found that kids who drank fluoridated water had 42 percent fewer cavities than the kids that didn't have fluoridated water in their areas.
Steed says that fluoride even benefits adults. He suggests parents who choose bottled water for their kids should also talk to a doctor or dentist about fluoride supplements.
Finding out whether bottled water contains fluoride can be difficult because the FDA only requires manufacturers to list fluoride on the label if it is added during processing. Contacting the manufacturer may be necessary in order to stay informed.
About 70 percent of Utah's children use tap water as their main sources of hydration, whereas only 23 percent get it from bottled water. About 45 percent of Utah's children use fluoride supplements.
Taking in far too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, which can affect the look of developing teeth. However, 88 percent of Utah's children were totally unaffected by fluorosis, 12 percent had it mildly and no children had severe fluorosis.
