Children's teeth may suffer from bottled water boom

By Erica Noonan, AP writer Copyright 1998 Associated Press November 2, 1998

In the minds of some parents, bottled water has become the equivalent of sunscreen or vitamins: extra protection in a sometimes dangerous world.

The elixir - which has gone from labeled luxury to supermarket staple in the past decade - markets itself as a healthful alternative to tap water because it contains minimal amounts of lead, pesticides, coliform and foul-tasting chlorine.

But bottled water also contains minimal amounts of fluoride, the mineral dentists say helps develop stronger teeth in children and helps prevent tooth decay in adults.

With consumption of bottled water at an all-time high nationwide, dentists are concerned about the long-term impact on children's teeth.

"This is a big problem, because we always depended on children drinking fluoridated water," says Dr. David Harte, a dentist in Milton. "We are seeing more cavities across the board than we saw in the 1980s."

Last year, Americans consumed an estimated 3.4 billion gallons of bottled water - 12.7 gallons per person - and the figure is expected to increase in 1998 by nearly 10 percent.

The issue may prompt the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to start collecting data as early as next year, said Dr. Kit Shaddix, Fluoride Team Leader at the CDC's Division of Oral Health.

Shaddix said he believes many parents are unwittingly depriving their youngsters of fluoride, although precise figures are scarce.

"We know that 60 percent of water consumed in Orange County and L.A. is bottled and that some kids are denied the benefits of fluoride," he says. "We have no hard statistics at all. I wish we did."

Fluoride, a natural substance that is added to nearly 60 percent of the nation's water systems, has been the subject of debate for more than three decades. Opponents of fluoride say the mineral is dangerous and should not be added to public water supplies.

But nearly all public health experts say that consumption of fluoride in tap water - at levels of about 1 part per million - strengthens the developing teeth of children.

On a daily basis, fluoride is taken in through water or foods, processed by the body and re-secreted in saliva where it aids in remineralizing teeth under attack from acid-producing bacteria.

According to the American Dental Association, fluoride prevents between 40 percent and 60 percent of cavities in children and adults who live in fluoridated communities. Research shows an estimated half of all American children now reach their 18th birthdays without a cavity.

But Harte and other dentists who work with children in fluoridated communities say tooth decay is resurfacing among young patients.

"Thanks to fluoride and sealants (in the 70s and early 80s) we had kids with perfect teeth," he says. "That's changed."

Also, dentists say, adults who are "long in the tooth" from receding gums should be keeping better track of their fluoride levels.

"Older people who live in fluoridated communities have much less decay and tooth loss," says Shaddix, adding that too much reliance on bottled water "could be detrimental for kids and adults."

But the perception of bottled water as a healthy, stylish and pollution-free drink seems to be overpowering public enthusiasm for municipal water.

Ask Gary Hemphill, vice president of Beverage Marketing Corp., a research and consulting firm based in New York. He predicts that the country's fifth most popular beverage may eventually outsell all non-soft drink beverages - including beer, milk and fruit juices.

"We don't see any reason why consumer attitudes would shift," he says, adding that the market for bottled water of 1.5 liters or less had jumped 25 percent in the last year. "It is perfectly positioned for peoples' lifestyles."

Some bottlers have responded to dental concerns by producing special lines of fluoridated water. Last month, McKesson Water Product Co. of Pasadena, Calif., introduced Junior Sport, a 12 oz. water with fluoride. With a kid-friendly, reclosable pop-top, it is available in California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona.

Spokeswoman Julie Thomas-Lowe says the company did not yet have hard sales figures, but response had been very positive.

Because it's still unclear whether children who drink bottled water can get enough fluoride from toothpaste, mouth rinses or food products, experts like Dr. Michael Easley, director of the National Center for Fluoridation Policy and Research at the State University of New York at Buffalo, say parents should educate themselves on the issue and consider the need for prescription fluoride.

"Parents should consult with their dentists and pediatricians and do an analysis of how much fluoride their kids are getting," said Easley.

Meanwhile, he said, protective parents should rethink the safety value of bottled water versus tap water.

"We live in a service-oriented economy and kids with bad or missing teeth don't get hired," he said, adding, "They also don't smile."

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