In the 1940’s, water fluoridation officially started in the United States. While it is believed that water fluoridation does reduce tooth decay, there are many areas of the United States that don’t have fluoride added to their water.
In the same decade that water fluoridation commenced, people in non-fluoridated areas wondered how their children could reap the the benefits of fluoride if their water supply was not yet fluoridated.
Trials were performed in which dietary fluoride supplements were administered to children in order to determine if they could receive fluoride’s anti-cavity effects in pill form.
After this trial period, the American Dental Association (ADA) came up with the very first fluoride dosage schedule in 1958. In the years that followed, the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the ADA had two separate fluoride dosage schedules. Unfortunately, many children started getting dental fluorosis, and as a result, the amount of recommended fluoride was gradually reduced. Finally, in 1994 the ADA and AAP finally agreed on the following schedule, which was reaffirmed in 2010.
Source: OralAnswers.com
