BRUSHING KIDS’ TEETH AND THE RISKS OF TASTY TOOTHPASTE

The toothpaste tastes like bubble gum. The kids love it so much, they’re happy to brush their teeth. This can only be good, right? So why does the package say that an adult should supervise brushing? Why so much concern for a product that has universally been regarded as safe and effective?

It’s all because of the fluoride in it.Yes, fluoride is good for teeth. It can strengthen them and prevent dental cavities. That’s why it’s in the toothpaste.

But too much fluoride is not good for the teeth that are still developing under the gums. It can cause dental fluorosis — white or brown spots on the teeth. Preventing fluorosis is the main reason that you need to supervise brushing for young children.

Permanent teeth develop from birth through around 16 years of age. Dental fluorosis is labeled from very mild to severe. Many of us have mild fluorosis (a few white specks on our teeth). Moderate or severe fluorosis appears as brown deformities known as “mottling” on the permanent teeth.

We can obtain fluoride from fluoridated water and many products we eat or drink. So why be concerned with the amount of toothpaste your child is using?

First of all, the amount of fluoride in toothpaste is many, many times more than that found in drinking water. Most parents are surprised to learn that children’s toothpaste contains the same amount of fluoride as adult toothpaste. It ranges from 1,000 to 1,100 parts per million.

Children’s tubes of toothpaste are often flavored like candy to broaden their appeal. Some have sparkles. Others have cartoons on the bottle or tube. Because these are fun to use, an unsupervised child or a misinformed parent may use too much. Only a pea-sized amount is recommended.

Young children (especially those under age 3) also may not have complete control of their swallowing reflex. They may end up swallowing some when brushing. In young children who cannot spit properly, almost all of the toothpaste is swallowed.

If this happens every day, your child is at an increased risk for mild dental fluorosis. Occasionally, moderate to severe fluorosis occurs.

What should a parent do?

Always use fluoride toothpaste to brush children’s teeth. The use of fluorides has been absolutely proven to prevent dental cavities. Using these products, along with fluoridated water, makes children’s stronger. This can help them to be caries (cavity) free.

Instruct your children in the proper use. Watch them carefully while they are brushing. Don’t assume that your child can use the product without supervision.

If your child is under age 3, brush the child’s teeth yourself. If your children are 3 to 6 years old, you can allow them to brush their teeth, to get them used to the process. But then you should thoroughly brush their teeth afterward to make sure the job gets done right. Children in this age group usually do not have the coordination to brush their teeth on their own.

Generally, a child who is able to brush responsibly can be allowed to brush without supervision. For some children, this could be as early as 7 years old. Others who have not shown that they can brush and use toothpaste properly should be supervised until they are older.

Since children must use toothpaste with caution, why don’t we have lower levels of fluoride in toothpaste? In Europe, toothpaste containing lower levels of fluoride are available.

The main reason is that makers of toothpaste want to be able to label their products as anti-cavity. The Food and Drug Administration allows them to be labeled this way now. That’s because it agrees with the manufacturers’ research findings that toothpaste containing 1,000 to 1,100 parts per million of fluoride prevents cavities.

In order to make the same claim with low-fluoride toothpaste, manufacturers would need to conduct more research. They would have to study whether toothpaste with less fluoride also prevents dental cavities.

Even if lower-fluoride toothpaste were available, caution would still be needed. Parents still would need to supervise tooth brushing. But children would be at much lower risk of developing dental fluorosis on their developing and erupting permanent teeth.

In August 2001, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged manufacturers to research the effectiveness of lower fluoride toothpaste for children. Some recent studies have tested kinds of toothpaste containing 500 parts per million of fluoride. They were found to prevent cavities just as well as toothpaste with 1,100 parts per million.

Bubblegum flavored toothpaste may taste good, but that does not mean it’s always safe for children to use. To avoid the increased risk of dental fluorosis, always follow the package directions, and supervise your child’s brushing.

please motivate me by giving your feedback as the comment and also share your views. Please don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment and share with your loved ones.

You may connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn.

Thanks for reading | Stay happy, stay healthy.

Take care!

1. TOP 10 BENEFITS OF GRAPESEED OIL FOR SKIN AND HAIR
2. MAGICAL SECRETS TO STOP HAIR FALL
3. AMAZING HAIR PACKS FOR LONG AND HEALTHY HAIR
4. FOODS FOR LONG AND HEALTHY HAIR
5. TOP 5 ANTIOXIDANTS RICH FOOD
6. TOP 10 DIY BEAUTY TRICKS WITH COCONUT OIL
7. BEAUTY BENEFITS OF DRINKING COCONUT WATER DAILY
8. FACE PACK FOR HEALTHY AND GLOWING SKIN
9. HOW TO USE GREEN TEA ON YOUR FACE
10. FIND OUT YOUR SKIN TONE

Advertisement