After Florida’s Fluoride No, here are ways to keep your child’s teeth healthy

For over 25 years, a pediatric dentist, Dr. Natalie Carr Bustillo was usually able to learn when the children she treated came from the plant city.

The East Hillsboro community only added fluoride to its drinking water in 2013. Before that, children with cavities that often make it difficult to clean spots between teeth were always present from the city, she said.

With a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday, she fears the number of children with severe cavities will rise sharply as it effectively prohibits the addition of fluoride to public drinking water supplies. The law will take effect on July 1st.

Water fluorination is supported by the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Florida Dental Association.

“The cavity progresses much faster in non-fluidized areas, so I’m very concerned for children and even adults,” said Carr Bustillo, who practices at Kerr Pediatric Dentistry in Riverview.

Carr-Bustilelo spoke with the Tampa Bay Times and provided the following advice on how anxious parents can protect their children’s teeth: The tips apply to adults too.

Make sure your child brushes their teeth with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and evening. Parents should help their children brush from around 6 to 8 years old. Children can vomit when brushing their teeth, but they remove fluoride and should not rinse their mouths afterwards. If your child must rinse, use a fluoride rinse. This is not recommended for very young children.

Floss your child at least once a day, and if possible, at bedtime. Parents need to support their children until they reach around 12 years old.Stick to a 6 month checkup strictly. “It will be more important than ever to make sure you see your dentist twice a year.Consider applying fluoride varnish to your child’s teeth when making a dental appointmentReduce sugar intake. Don’t forget that sugar can be found not only in candies, but also in soda, fruit juice, sports drinks and cereals. “It’s not usually the sugar on the face. Hidden sugar becomes a big problem,” Carr-Bustillo says.Give your child more water. It helps neutralize the acid in their mouths, meaning they are consuming less sugar drinks.