[Childrens Dentistry - West Cobb]

Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use?
The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child's gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, start brushing twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush. Use a "smear" of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child less than 2 years of age. For the 2-5 year old, dispense a "pea-size" amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child's toothbrushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively.Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

Adults should monitor the amount of toothpaste applied to children's toothbrushes. "In fact, I suggest that parents actually place the paste on the brush because children really haven't developed the dexterity with their hands and they tend to use an excessive amount of paste," says Dr. Watson-Lowry. "Plus, kids think that more is better, but it's not. Small kids have trouble spitting out the toothpaste and they frequently swallow it. That's extra fluoride they don't need."

In fact, overzealous use of fluoridated toothpaste can lead to a condition known as fluorosis, in which teeth become chalky white or yellowed and in severe cases, brittle. The discoloration is permanent, but teeth sometimes can be brightened with bleaching techniques. Fluorosis causes no other known physical problems.

"Parents really need to watch the amount of fluoride their children ingest," says Dr. Watson-Lowry. "They should watch their child brush, show the child how to spit out the toothpaste, and if necessary, wipe or flush the toothpaste out of the child's mouth so it won't be ingested."