How to Choose the Right Toothpaste for Children?
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
The first tooth begins to sprout when a kid is 6 months old and the kid will have 20 milk teeth by age 3. You should start teeth cleaning actions as soon as the teeth erupt in your kid because the baby teeth are susceptible to cavities. Every parent should have a good idea and take care of kid’s oral hygiene until their little champ gets familiar with the dental routine.
When it comes to children’s dental hygiene, most people have queries like “Shall I use toothpaste to clean my baby’s teeth?”, “Which toothpaste is right for kids?” and so on. Right?
Our team of pediatric dentists answered such questions and mentioned the things you should look for while choosing a kid’s toothpaste. Continue reading to know more.
When should you use toothpaste for babies?
You can start brushing your kid when the milk teeth erupt but you should aware of the amount of toothpaste you are using. The contents in toothpaste are safe for babies only if you use them in the correct dose.
If your child is under the age of 3, then a tiny smear of toothpaste about the size of a rice is sufficient.
If your child aged 3 or above, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Too much of anything is good for nothing. The popular saying is fit for the toothpaste dosage we take.
Note: Use a small, infant toothbrush or baby finger toothbrush.
What are the things should you consider while buying toothpaste for kids?
1) Fluoride Content
Fluoride is an abundant element that helps in strengthening the teeth enamel and prevents cavities. Toothpaste containing fluoride along with the antibacterial agents and abrasives make brushing more effective. In general, the toothpaste contains 1000 – 1500 ppm of fluoride.
Recent stats show that about 25% of kids develop cavities before start going to school.
So you should introduce fluoride to your child when he/she begin to brush. On contrary, excess use of fluoride will lead to a condition called fluorosis. Mild fluorosis leads to white spots in teeth where severe fluorosis causes brown discoloration.
However, kids may swallow toothpaste despite administering them carefully. Hence you should supervise your kid’s brushing activity to ensure whether he/she spit out the toothpaste.
Otherwise, choose toothpaste prepared for babies and they have less than 1000 ppm of fluoride.
2) Look for quality assurance certification
Next to the ingredients in toothpaste, you should ensure the product’s standardization and safety. So check whether the toothpaste has the necessary government certification like ISO.
Meanwhile, check whether the toothpaste you pick has the seal of acceptance issued by the Indian Dental Association (IDA).
Such seals and certifications from the Government or recognized associations will help you to make informed choices.
3) Pick Kid-friendly flavors
When your toddlers feel excited with the toothpaste taste, they are more likely to brush. Right?
Many oral care product manufacturers produce toothpaste with toddlers adorable flavors like bubble gums, strawberry, watermelon. This fancies the children’s taste buds and makes them comply with regular brushing.
Bottom line
Every parent should begin the dental care actions for their kids earlier than we think. Make the routine as kids-friendly oral care whilst ensuring the cleaning agent (toothpaste) encompass the right dosage of necessary ingredients and it should possess the standards defined by Government.
Have queries in choosing toothpaste or other dental products for infants, preschoolers, and school-aged kids? Contact our dentists. We are eagerly waiting to answer your questions.
