At NWA Pediatric Dentistry one of the most frequent questions we get is, what kind of toothpaste should we be using? Or when can we start using fluoride toothpaste? Or when should our kids start using “adult” toothpaste?
To help us explore this topic, we took a little trip to our friendly local store down the street, known as Walmart! Save money, live better!
When searching for toothpaste at Walmart you may or not be surprised at what you find…
– There are roughly 100 different kinds of toothpaste available this week at our local Fayetteville Walmart Supercenter.
– Of those, 25 are marketed as Kids or children’s toothpaste including top brands like Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne Pronamel, and Orajel.
– The price of toothpaste as of this week ranges from $1 to $5 per tube.
With so many options, where do you even start when choosing the right toothpaste?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s policy on the use of fluoride “encourages toothbrushing with appropriate amounts of fluoride toothpaste twice daily for all children”. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association stand by the same recommendation. (Further reading available at the academy links below)
– Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention in the Primary Care Setting
– Fluoride toothpaste use for young children
So what is the appropriate amount?
– The appropriate amount for kids under 3 years old is a “grain of rice” sized amount.
– Children 3 to 6 years old should use only a “pea” sized amount.
– The assumption for kids older than 6 is that they have fully developed the ability to spit any excess toothpaste and the amount of toothpaste is no longer as critical. Practically though, using a little more than a pea sized amount is all that is needed for older kids to receive all the benefit from using a fluoridated toothpaste for brushing. Anything more than that is using excess toothpaste and has the potential for creating a bigger slobbering mess! 😀
Reminder! Keep your toothpaste out of reach from younger kids to avoid any excess ingestion just like any other medicine.
When do I need to switch to using adult toothpaste aka minty-fresh toothpaste for my kids?
The Mint flavoring in adult toothpaste gives us that wonderful feeling of a sparkling clean mouth and fresh breath. This sensation has actually been shown to increase the consistency of adults brushing twice a day. But is that mint flavored adult toothpaste really better at preventing cavities? No!
Taking a look at the active ingredients comparing kids toothpaste and adult toothpaste all up and down the aisle of our local Fayetteville Walmart, you’ll see the amount of fluoride content is mostly equivalent in the kid’s toothpaste and the adult toothpaste! And guess what? The fluoride is the ingredient that works to remineralize and strengthen enamel which helps prevent cavities!
So, if your little kid likes the same toothpaste you do, go right ahead and use it with the age-appropriate amount. But if your little kid (or big kid) thinks the adult toothpaste is “too spicy”, keep using any one of the kid fluoridated toothpastes.
What toothpaste is on Dr. Platt’s counter this week?
Currently it’s Kids Crest Strawberry Flavor! We’ve tried multiple brands and flavors, and this is the current kid favorite. Every kid (and adult) may have a different preference so try a few and see what’s best!
Have more questions about brushing your kids teeth or choosing the right toothpaste? Schedule a visit at our Fayetteville office today for your child’s next dental check up and we’ll be happy to answer any questions, big or small!
