CR's Take:
		To prevent dental cavities, choose fluoridated bottled water for children over 1 year of age if their drinking water is unfluoridated and they drink bottled water most of the time.

Bottled water with fluoride may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay, according to a recent Food and Drug Administration decision to allow companies to make this claim. The American Dental Association supports the decision. For children who drink bottled water most of the time, the ADA recommends that it be the fluoridated kind, and Consumer Reports agrees. The decision does not apply to bottled waters marketed for use by infants, who should ingest limited amounts of fluoride through the first year of life.

The decision is not without controversy. Anti-fluoride proponents claim fluoride is unsafe for ingestion, while fears still abound that fluoridated water can cause a range of ailments. However, the only clearly established risk of drinking fluoridated water is fluorosis, a generally harmless but permanent staining of the teeth.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that is often added to municipal water, and theoretically most people who drink fluoridated tap water should get enough of it to protect against tooth decay. Fluoridated drinking water consistently raises the level of fluoride in saliva and plaque to provide ongoing tooth protection. Fluoridated toothpaste gives additional protection to both children and adults (though the ADA does not recommend fluoride toothpaste for children 2 and younger).

If your child drinks bottled water most of the time, it should be the fluoridated kind. Check the label to see that the brand provides the equivalent of about 1 milligram of fluoride per liter. (Products that qualify for the new label claim must contain more than 0.6 mg and up to 1.0 mg total fluoride per liter.)

You can check to see whether (and how much) your tap water is fluoridated by checking out the Environmental Protection Agency's local drinking water information page. In addition, you can check your drinking water's quality on the Natural Resources Defense Council's site, which lists the results of drinking water tests in 19 U.S. cities. (A poor rating means water in these cities may at times contain contaminants that pose health risks to vulnerable consumers, including pregnant women, infants, and children.) If you don't find your city listed at these sites, you should ask your water utility for a copy of its annual water-quality report.

Also see our free reports on toothpaste, food poisoning and babies, and flu shot safety for babies and kids for more information.