Milk

There are many fluoride milk schemes worldwide and studies in the UK, Chile, Bulgaria, Russia and China have shown fluoridated milk can reduce tooth decay.

Milk fluoridation works in the same way as water fluoridation.

Fluoride is added to the milk containers at the dairy before being sent to schools.

Fluoridated milk has been available for nearly 40 years. It is provided in schools to children whose parents have given permission.

Over 38,000 children in the UK drink fluoridated milk at school.

In primary schools and nurseries in England, the usual amount added to a carton of milk is 0.5mg fluoride

Fluoridated milk looks, tastes and smells the same as ordinary milk.

In school milk fluoridation programmes, the level of fluoride is carefully controlled to protect against tooth decay, without causing dental fluorosis. In the UK 0.5mg of fluoride is present in a daily carton of milk. The uptake of fluoride from milk into the body is slower than from water.

Fluoridated milk is liquid, powdered or long-life milk to which fluoride has been added to offer protection against tooth decay. It is used mainly in schools by young children whose parents have consented. The World Health Organisation is supporting several studies of milk fluoridation around the world.

No. Fluoridated milk is only available through school milk fluoridation programmes.

The level of fluoride in milk is very low and scientific reviews have shown it has no damaging effects on teeth.

Children only start drinking fluoridated milk when they are three. By this age the crown formation of the permanent front teeth is past its critical stage so the likelihood of mottling from drinking fluoridated milk is negligible.

Fluoridated milk schemes are generally run in schools where milk is already given to children and so the cost of adding fluoride to the milk is small.

You will have to give your consent before your child will receive any.

Fluoridated milk is legal throughout the UK and the European Community. It can be subsidised like ordinary school milk schemes.

Fluoridated milk provides both nutritional and dental health benefits to young children. Parents can choose whether or not they want their child to drink it.

One disadvantage is that the overall success of the scheme has not been properly assessed, by running randomised controlled clinical studies. In addition, children receive the benefits only when they are at school, not during the holidays. A further disadvantage is fluoridated milk is only available in schools where daily milk schemes for children have been in operation for some time. School milk schemes are usually targeted at children in primary and junior schools, so older children and adults do not benefit.