Home Blog Doctors Services Videos New Patients Testimonials Smile Gallery FAQs Contact Us Blog Section Are You Putting Too Much Toothpaste on Your Child’s Toothbrush? By Danielle Amini-Luther 28 Mar, 2019 Dental Health Baby teeth, Brushing Baby Teeth, Child, Fluoridated Toothpaste, Fluoridated Water, fluoride, Infant, Kid, Kids Toothpaste, oral health, Toddler, Toothpaste Share This: It is very important to begin attending to your child’s oral health even before teeth appear in their mouth! But, how much toothpaste should you be using? In commercials we see a long strip of toothpaste covering the entire brush head, but studies show this is nowhere close the recommended amount. Even before teeth erupt in your infant’s mouth, it is important to rub their gums with a moist gauze pad or cloth in order to help remove any food residue and bacterial biofilms that may be lingering. At approximately 6 months of age, your baby’s first tooth will begin to erupt into their oral cavity. The second the first tooth is exposed, it is vulnerable to decay. This decay can be easily prevented with proper oral hygiene. However, until your child can brush their own teeth, it is important to brush their teeth for them or supervise them brushing with fluoridated toothpaste twice a day. Fluoride is a mineral that is incorporated into developing teeth to make them stronger and more resistant to decay. Many communities have fluoridated water, but if your family is on well water or you live in a community without fluoridated water, it is important to make sure you are using fluoride toothpaste and rinses for your child. Most bottled water does not contain fluoride, so you only receive these benefits from drinking tap water. Your dentist may even recommend giving your child fluoride chews to help strengthen their teeth. Baby teeth are more susceptible to decay so it is very important to make sure we take care of them. Even though they fall out, the permanent teeth are located so close under them that any decay on baby teeth could easily be transferred to permanent teeth. So, does this mean we should be using a huge glob of toothpaste to make sure our infants are fully protected from decay? Absolutely not. Infants and toddlers have not fully developed their ability to spit. The American Dental Association recommends using a smear of fluoridated toothpaste for children under the age of 3, and a pea-sized amount for ages 3-6 (see image). Always supervise your child while they brush until you feel completely confident they are able to successfully do this on their own. References: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/moms-guide-to-fluoride https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/healthy-habits Share This: Post navigation « Previous Next » Search for: Recent Posts Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Diet and Oral Health Meditation for Anyone Are You Putting Too Much Toothpaste on Your Child’s Toothbrush? Would You Ignore Bleeding Coming From Any Part of Your Body? Categories Dental Health Fitness Food Tips General Health Health Tips Healthy Food Weight Loss Archives August 2019 June 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 October 2018 September 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 Dr. Amini offers an informative environment and state-of-the-art dental facilities. At our practice, patient desire, individualized care, and attention to detail are our priority. Recent Posts Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Diet and Oral Health Meditation for Anyone Are You Putting Too Much Toothpaste on Your Child’s Toothbrush? Would You Ignore Bleeding Coming From Any Part of Your Body? Amini & Associates Howard County Dorsey Hall Professional Park 5016 Dorsey Hall Drive, Suite 103 Ellicott City, Maryland 21042 Phone: 410-740-1400 Email: info@draminiellicottcity.com Amini & Associates Frederick County Springridge Professional Park 9099 Ridgefield Drive, Suite 206 Frederick, Maryland 21701 Phone: 301-663-7733 Email: info@draminifrederick.com © 2021 Amini & Associates. All Rights Reserved. Website by Fervent Concepts