Children's drinking water: parental preferences and implications for fluoride exposure

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health Nutrition
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Children's water sources are crucial for assessing fluoride exposure.
• Bottled water consumption is common among children.
• Accurate fluoride intake assessment is vital for dental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify children's primary drinking water sources.
• To explore demographic factors influencing water choices.
• To understand parental reasons for choosing bottled water.
• To assess parental knowledge of bottled water fluoride content for health assessments.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 194 parents of children aged 6 months to 15 years.
• Data collected via verbal questionnaires in English and Spanish.
• Chi-square analyses were employed to determine associations between variables.

Main Results:

• 69% of parents provided children with bottled water, exclusively or combined with tap water.
• No significant association found between bottled water use and tap water source, parental education, or income.
• Key reasons for bottled water use: perceived contaminants, taste/smell, and convenience.
• Over 65% of parents using bottled water were unaware of its fluoride content.

Conclusions:

• High bottled water use and lack of parental knowledge about fluoride content pose challenges for assessing children's fluoride exposure.
• Healthcare providers can improve fluoride assessment by educating parents on water sources and fluoride content.
• This communication is essential for determining the necessity of fluoride supplementation.