DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Sodium Fluoride Chewable Tablets (SO-dee-uhm FLOR-ide)
Brand Name: Examples include EtheDent and Luride

EtheDent Chewable Tablets is used for:

Preventing cavities in children older than 6 months of age when the amount of fluoride in the water supply is too low.

EtheDent Chewable Tablets is a mineral. It works by strengthening the teeth and decreasing the effects of acid and bacteria on the teeth.

Do NOT use EtheDent Chewable Tablets if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in EtheDent Chewable Tablets
• you are younger than 6 months of age
• your drinking water has a fluoride content greater than 0.6 parts per million (ppm)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using EtheDent Chewable Tablets:

Some medical conditions may interact with EtheDent Chewable Tablets. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have joint pain, severe kidney problems, or stomach or intestinal ulcers

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with EtheDent Chewable Tablets. However, no specific interactions with EtheDent Chewable Tablets are known at this time.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if EtheDent Chewable Tablets may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use EtheDent Chewable Tablets:

Use EtheDent Chewable Tablets as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• EtheDent Chewable Tablets may be taken with or without food. Do not eat or drink dairy products from 1 hour before to 2 hours after taking EtheDent Chewable Tablets.
• Do not take antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium for several hours after taking EtheDent Chewable Tablets.
• Chew thoroughly before swallowing.
• If you miss a dose of EtheDent Chewable Tablets, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use EtheDent Chewable Tablets.

Important safety information:

• Do not exceed the dose recommended by your doctor or dentist.
• Notify your dentist if your teeth become spotted or stained.
• EtheDent Chewable Tablets is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 6 months of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• Caution is advised when using EtheDent Chewable Tablets in CHILDREN younger than 6 years of age. The appropriate dose of EtheDent Chewable Tablets depends on the child's age and the amount of fluoride in the drinking water. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the appropriate dose for your child or the amount of fluoride in your drinking water.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking EtheDent Chewable Tablets, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using EtheDent Chewable Tablets during pregnancy. It is unknown if EtheDent Chewable Tablets is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using EtheDent Chewable Tablets, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of EtheDent Chewable Tablets:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. When used in small doses, no COMMON side effects have been reported with EtheDent Chewable Tablets. Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; extreme thirst; increased drooling; muscle weakness; nausea; paleness of the skin; seizures; shallow, rapid breathing; shaking; stomach pain; vomiting; weak or fast heartbeat.

Proper storage of EtheDent Chewable Tablets:

Store EtheDent Chewable Tablets at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep EtheDent Chewable Tablets out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about EtheDent Chewable Tablets, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• EtheDent Chewable Tablets is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about EtheDent Chewable Tablets. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.