Australian Dental Council (ADC) Test 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The best immediate treatment option for a child who has consumed a toxic dose of fluoride is to administer milk, calcium tablets, or magnesium tablets. Fluoride toxicity can lead to a number of complications, and the intake of calcium or magnesium can help to bind fluoride in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing its absorption into the bloodstream. These substances can help to mitigate the systemic effects of fluoride toxicity by providing the essential minerals that can antagonize the toxic effects of fluoride ions.

Milk is particularly effective because it is high in calcium, and the proteins and fats it contains can also help to provide additional protection against absorption. In situations of fluoride toxicity, prompt treatment is crucial, and this approach has been shown to be more effective in managing the symptoms and reducing the severity of toxicity than other methods.

As a result, while inducing vomiting, giving fluids, or asking the patient to refrain from eating may have some merit in certain contexts, they do not directly address the need to bind fluoride or alleviate its toxic effects as effectively as administering calcium or magnesium.