Fluoride takes time to infiltrate your teeth and deliver health advantages, but the best dentist in Knoxville, IL will tell you that too much fluoride can be harmful to young children.
Depending on the type of toothpaste you use, your age, whether you rinse after brushing, and your personal preferences, the amount of toothpaste you should put on your toothbrush might vary.
How Much Toothpaste Should an Adult Use?
You're not alone if you use a ribbon of toothpaste to cover your toothbrush bristles from end to end. Regardless of whether you use fluoride toothpaste or not, most dentists recommend brushing with a pea-sized quantity every time.
If you prefer the flavor and feel of extra toothpaste when brushing, go ahead and do so — there isn't a toothbrushing cop watching your every move.
Some people also find that brushing with a little extra toothpaste helps them brush for longer since it allows them to brush for the entire two minutes as advised by the American Dental Association (ADA).
How Much Toothpaste Should a Child Use?
Adults should use about a pea-sized quantity of toothpaste, but it's not harmful to use more. Children under the age of three should use even less fluoride toothpaste, and there is a strong reason to avoid using too much fluoride toothpaste.
Young children have a difficult time controlling their swallowing reflex, and toothpaste might be swallowed accidentally.
While swallowing toothpaste has no negative consequences in small amounts, children who consume too much fluoride toothpaste over time may have stomach pain or intestinal issues.
Although fluorosis is curable, using the appropriate quantity of toothpaste and not ingesting it will prevent your children from acquiring it.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that more than 80% of households used too much toothpaste for children aged 1-6 years in four-years of research.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the American Dental Association (ADA) all recommend that children start using fluoride toothpaste when their first tooth erupts and use only a smear of toothpaste on the brush – about the size of a grain of rice – until they are three years old.
After that, youngsters can start using the pea-sized amount of toothpaste that is advised for older children and adults. Parents should keep an eye on their children's toothbrushing until they are at least eight years old, according to the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Fluoride toothpaste protects your children's teeth and helps them avoid cavities, but the appropriate quantity of toothpaste is a vital aspect of good brushing practices.
Looking for the Best Dentist in Knoxville, IL?
Adults require a pea-sized quantity of toothpaste, while children under the age of three require less. The essential thing is that you clean your teeth twice a day and practice good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth will be more fun and effective if you use the proper amount of toothpaste and one that feels and tastes excellent.
Contact Smalltown Dental today to schedule an appointment.
