It has been found that children younger than 2 years swallow up to 60% of toothpaste that they use to brush their teeth. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Dental Association (ADA) both recommend using a "smear" of toothpaste on children once the first tooth appears and until your child is 3. Once your child has turned 3, a pea-sized amount can be used.
This is now starting to hit the media and in our tv ads. However, the prevalence of dental fluorosis in the United States has increased during the last 30 years both in communities with fluoridated water and in communities with nonfluoridated water, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that the prevalence of dental fluorosis was higher in adolescents than in adults and highest among those aged 12-15 and adolescents aged 12-15 in 1999-2004 had a higher prevalence of dental fluorosis than adolescents aged 12-15 in 1986-1987.
Young children drinking fluoridated bottled water and swallowing fluoridated toothpaste can be harmful to your child. The AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians, says that swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause spots on your child's teeth. These spots on your child's teeth are signs of fluorosis. The higher prevalence of dental fluorosis does not necessarily lead to low prevalence of dental caries, finds a study by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical University, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Children aged less than 6 years have not learned to control the swallowing reflex and parents should encourage the child to spit excess toothpaste into the sink to minimize the amount swallowed.
NON FLUORIDATED TOOTHPASTE
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