Children love the taste of toothpaste and will not hesitate to lick and swallow large portions if within their reach. Sometimes these children lick the paste on their brush and come back asking for more. When children swallow large amounts of toothpaste, they might come down with a dental condition known as Dental fluorosis/enamel mottling. This is not a disease, rather is the appearance of whitish patches on the teeth which happens as a result of swallowing excess fluoride.
Fluoride is a constituent of toothpaste that helps prevent tooth decay. However, if children consume a large portion during the tooth formation process, it results in dental fluorosis.
Children are advised not to use adult toothpaste if they can’t spit out yet. Toothpaste manufacturers have been able to reduce the amount of fluoride in children’s toothpaste thereby reducing the incidence of fluorosis. Using Children’s toothpaste has the following advantages:
- It comes in appealing flavours which makes brushing fun.
- It contains lesser amount of fluoride. While providing fluoride to prevent tooth decay, it also reduces the occurrence of dental fluorosis.
Your children will benefit from supervision during brushing to prevent them from swallowing too much and also making sure they brush their teeth.
See also: How to know the best a Toothpaste to use