When can my child start using a regular toothpaste? – Elite Dental Care Tracy
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21 October 2020

When can my child start using a regular toothpaste? – Elite Dental Care Tracy

It is an exciting aspect for every parent to see their toddler’s growth and development of organs in their body, especially their cute tiny teeth. Every phase of a child’s growth is surprising and pleasing to the parents. Parents come across many questions and face dilemmatic situations while their children are growing. They keep solving the puzzles and regrow along with their children. This whole journey is beautiful though it has many sensitive situations. One such situation is the dental health of the children. Parents have various questions about their toddlers’ dental health, and the most asked question that we come across at Elite Dental Care is

“When can my child start using regular fluoride toothpaste”?

In this article, we want to throw light on this concept to enlighten the parents and clarify their dilemma. Generally, Paediatricians suggest cleaning the gums of the infants with a soft bristle little head brush or the finger before even their teeth erupt and use only water to cleanse their gums.

Parents should be careful while using the paste to clean the gums of the toddlers or it may affect their dental growth. Here are a few tips on how to choose the toothpaste:

Tips for choosing a toothpaste for your toddler:

A fluoride-free toothpaste exclusively made for kids under two years is a good option for tiny people. Toothpaste must be free from sugars, artificial colors, preservatives. Choose a mild-flavored toothpaste, or your kids will not enjoy the taste of the strong-flavor toothpaste and might become reluctant towards brushing the teeth. In case you want to use regular fluoride toothpaste from the infant stage, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends using a smear rice-sized amount of toothpaste. The usage of excess quantity might affect the gums and further growth of the teeth.

Here are a few insights on what to use for your toddlers for their oral health.

First teeth (Primary) eruption:

It is a cute moment for parents to see the first teeth erupt in their kiddos and that means he/she is ready for brushing but  Initially, use fluoride-free toothpaste. Use extra soft bristles brush. Rinse your toddler’s mouth thoroughly. Schedule regular dental visits.

Note: Parents! Never let your children go to sleep with a pacifier in their mouth to prevent the baby bottle tooth decay.

Permanent Teeth:

Children start developing their permanent teeth at the age of 6 and the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) suggests utilizing a smear (or generally the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste for kids from tooth emission through the age of 2, and families should expand this to a pea-sized measure of toothpaste for kids ages 3-6. Until this year, guardians weren’t encouraged to begin utilizing fluoride toothpaste on their kids’ teeth until age 2.  Due to the changed lifestyle in today’s living, the rate of tooth decay in young children has hiked up. National surveys record that poor dental health is possible to control in a few age groups, but the success rate is not up to the expected rate in young people. Therefore, both AAP and the American Dental Association have made it a point to reduce the rate of tooth decay in children and prompted a recommendation to provide fluoride toothpaste to kids, and this can shape their oral health from the early stages.

Parents should also control their children from excess consumption of cold beverages and other food that harms the teeth as good oral health is essential from the toddler’s stage for them to develop clear speech and chewing ability!!

Watch out for the brushing activity of your kids till they know the right way and importance of brushing. It is the only way to gift your child a beautiful smile and a healthy future!!