All small children, but especially those younger than age 6, may not be able to reliably spit out toothpaste when brushing. That fluoride toothpaste which is swallowed can lead to the causation of dental fluorosis.
The following suggestions can help to minimize the risk for developing dental fluorosis from the ingestion of fluoride toothpaste:
* Children should be instructed in good brushing and rinsing habits and then supervised when brushing, so to avoid toothpaste swallowing.
* Read your toothpaste's instructions. Typically only a small dab of toothpaste is needed, one the size of a green pea. Fluoridated toothpaste should be dispensed by an adult.
* As your dentist for their recommendation but in most cases an unfluoridated baby tooth cleanser should be used with children 2 years and under.
* Store fluoridated toothpaste out of the reach of children.
* When a fluoridated toothpaste is used look for one which has the American Dental Association's (ADA) "Seal of Approval." This indicates that this organization has evaluated the toothpaste and found its fluoride content to be at both a safe and effective level.
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