One of the questions that parents ask during their visits to Enchanted Forest has to do with the use of fluoride toothpaste. Ingestion of toothpaste with fluoride in small children increases the risk of enamel fluorosis. Don’t panic, enamel fluorosis in only a cosmetic problem which causes discoloration of permanent teeth once they come in (see photo).
Here is some general guidance to minimize fluoride ingestion:
- Limit the amount of toothpaste placed on the brush and observe the child as they brush.
- The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a “pea-sized” amount for children ages 2 to 5.
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- When deciding whether to use fluoridated toothpaste on children younger than 2 years of age, consider these factors.
– The child’s risk of dental caries
– The child’s risk of dental fluorosis
– The benefit of the topical fluoride exposure via use of fluoridated toothpaste
- A 2007 Maternal and Child Health Bureau expert panel recommended that all children at high risk for dental caries should use fluoride toothpaste.
Please remember this is general, if you have additional or more in depth questions about topic please call Dr. Rojas or ask her during your child’s next appointment.