Brushing your kids’s teeth is essential for good oral health and it can come with its own challenges. However, as a parent, it is important to inculcate good oral hygiene habits in kids right from a young age. Burying twice daily helps ward off childhood tooth decay and gum disease. Yet you may have a lot of questions when it comes to using toothpaste for kids. The family dentist in Mitchell and their dedicated team are available to help solve your queries.
Let us delve into the use of toothpaste for kids when to begin using it, and which is the best toothpaste for your kids.
When should babies start using toothpaste?
You may begin cleaning your baby’s mouth from birth by simply wiping a wet cotton ball or gauze. You must start brushing their teeth as soon as their first tooth pops out. Use a small-headed, soft-bristled toothbrush that can easily fit inside your baby’s mouth. And what about toothpaste? A tiny smear of toothpaste about the size of a rice grain is recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA).
How much toothpaste should kids use?
Using the correct amount of toothpaste will ensure your tiny tot’s smile is protected from tooth decay. Here are the guidelines when it comes to using a toothpaste for kids:
- Kids birth to age 3: Use a tiny smear (about the size of a rice grain)
- Kids ages 3 and up: Use a pea-sized amount
How often should kids brush their teeth?
According to the ADA, babies and kids should have their teeth brushed twice a day with toothpaste. Parents are recommended to brush their baby’s teeth until they are able to do so. Pre-schoolers should begin to brush their teeth on their own, and parents are expected to supervise them until they develop a good brushing technique.
What is the best toothpaste for kids?
The ADA recommends using fluoridated toothpaste for kids until they reach their teenage years. Fluoride, in the correct dose, is absolutely safe for babies. This trace element helps strengthen the tooth enamel and protect it from cavity-causing bacteria, and acids found in the plaque.
However, excess fluoride may do more harm than good. It can develop fluorosis in your kids leading to white, or yellowish-brown tooth discoloration.
Takeaway
Brushing is the most crucial aspect of maintaining good oral health especially in kids having unhealthy eating habits. Remember to brush their teeth twice a day with a mild fluoridated toothpaste using it in the size of a rice grain and gradually increase it to pea-size. Discuss with your dentist the best toothpaste for improved oral health.