sodium fluoride
Sodium fluoride is a supplement that's used to prevent cavities in children. It contains fluoride, an important mineral for oral health. This supplement comes as chewable tablets and liquid solution that are swallowed. Side effects usually aren't common, but speak to a healthcare professional about how safe sodium fluoride is for your child.
Note: In October 2025, the FDA recommended not giving ingestible sodium fluoride to children under 3 or those at low or moderate risk of tooth decay. Talk to a healthcare professional to see if this supplement is right for your child.
What is Sodium fluoride?
What is Sodium fluoride used for?
- Prevention of cavities in children
How Sodium fluoride works
Drug facts
Side effects of Sodium fluoride
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
See Risks and Warnings.
Less Common Side Effects
- Rash
The following Sodium fluoride side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Sores in the mouth and on the lips (rare)
Sodium fluoride in drinking water or taken as a supplement does not usually cause any side effects. However, taking an overdose of fluoride may cause serious problems.
Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help immediately if any of the following effects occur:
Black, tarry stools
bloody vomit
drowsiness
faintness
increased watering of the mouth
nausea or vomiting
shallow breathing
stomach cramps or pain
unusual excitement
watery eyes
weakness
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Pain and aching of bones
stiffness
white, brown, or black discoloration of the teeth—occurs only during periods of tooth development in children
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Sodium fluoride
Pros
- Taken once per day
- Comes in different fruit flavors
- Only needed if fluoride intake is low
Cons
- Can't take within 1 hour of dairy products
- Might be hard to track how much fluoride your child takes
- Not for adults
Pharmacist tips for Sodium fluoride
- The sodium fluoride chewable tablets are for children aged 3 to 16 years old. If your child is younger than 3 years old, use the sodium fluoride solution. This is because children under 3 have a higher risk of choking on the tablets.
- For sodium fluoride chewable tablets: You can either chew the tablets before swallowing. Or, you can let the tablet dissolve in the mouth before swallowing.
- For the sodium fluoride solution: Use a dropper to measure out the dose. Don't use household spoons because they aren't accurate and might cause you to give your child the wrong dose.
- Check the toothpaste your child uses and the foods and drinks they consume to see if they already contain fluoride. If they do, don't give your child sodium fluoride and talk to a healthcare professional. Too much fluoride can lead to side effects like changes in how the teeth look.
Common questions about Sodium fluoride
Ask a healthcare professional if your child needs sodium fluoride supplements. This usually depends on how much fluoride is in your local drinking water. If your child drinks tap water that already has the recommended amount of fluoride, they probably won't need extra supplements. The FDA also recently recommended not giving ingestible sodium fluoride to children under 3 or to those with a low or moderate risk of tooth decay. Talk to your child’s pediatrician or dentist to see if this supplement is right for them.
No. Sodium fluoride chewable tablets and solution arenn't meant for adults. They're only for children up to 16 years old. If you're an adult and need sodium fluoride for your teeth, talk to your dentist or pharmacist. There are sodium fluoride dental pastes, gels, and rinses that can be prescribed for adults to use.
Yes, but don't eat or drink any dairy products within 1 hour of taking sodium fluoride. The calcium in dairy products can attach to the fluoride and form calcium fluoride, which can't get absorbed into your child's body that well. This can make sodium fluoride not work as well for your child.
A common source of fluoride is toothpaste (brushed on the teeth, not swallowed). Most fluoride that people usually get is from fluorinated water. Certain foods and drinks like tea can also be made with fluorinated water. Talk to a healthcare professional if your child uses toothpaste or is exposed to other sources of fluoride. They can decide if sodium fluoride supplementation is right for your child.
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Risks and warnings for Sodium fluoride
Sodium fluoride can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Too much fluoride
Taking too much fluoride can cause a condition called fluorosis that can cause changes to your child's teeth. Also, ingesting large amounts of fluoride at one time can cause burning in the mouth, sore tongue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, salivation, and vomiting blood. If your child has any of these symptoms while taking sodium fluoride, call their pediatrician or contact a Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Sodium fluoride dosage
Chewable tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25mg | 90 chewable tablets | $11.27 | $0.13 |
| 0.5mg | 90 chewable tablets | $11.27 | $0.13 |
| 1mg | 90 chewable tablets | $11.27 | $0.13 |
Typical dosage for Sodium fluoride
The dose depends on your child's age and how much fluoride is in the tap drinking water in your area. The healthcare professional will determine the right dose for your child.
-
Sodium fluoride chewable tablets
- Ages 3 to up to 6 years: The typical dose is 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg by mouth once daily.
- Ages 6 to 16 years: The typical dose is 0.5 mg or 1 mg by mouth once daily.
-
- Ages 6 months to up to 3 years: The typical dose is ½ dropperful (0.5 mL) by mouth once daily. This dose is only for children in this age group who live in areas with no or extremely little fluoride in the drinking water.
- Ages 3 to up to 6 years: The typical dose is ½ or 1 dropperful (0.5 mL or 1 mL) by mouth once daily.
- Ages 6 to 16 years: The typical dose is 1 or 2 dropperfuls (1 mL or 2 mL) by mouth once daily.
Interactions between Sodium fluoride and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Sodium fluoride cost?
Sodium fluoride contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Sodium fluoride will not be safe for you to take.
- Children younger than 3 years old (chewable tablets only)
- Children younger than 6 months old (solution only)
- People older than 16 years of age
- Live in areas with adequate fluoride levels in drinking water
What are alternatives to Sodium fluoride?
Sodium fluoride images
