In a previous article on swallowing toothpaste especially in children, we said that
the risk is caused due to the amount of fluoride present in the toothpaste. We
explained what fluoride is, what are the consequences of consuming large
amounts of fluoride (white spots on teeth) and what is the recommended amount
for toothpaste in children.
Reminder:
- Children under the age of 3 are at low risk for tooth decay and brush only with water.
- Children under the age of 3 are at high risk of brushing with a quantity of rice grain size.
- Children ages 3 to 6 Green pea-sized tooth-paste.
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Fluorosis: White spots on teeth
Fluorosis is a condition in which white spots appears on teeth, sometimes it is yellow or brown on the enamel, or on the surface of the tooth. This can happen when young children consume too much fluoride in early childhood.
Note: Fluorosis can only occur during the development of teeth under the gums. Once the teeth erupt and appear in the mouth they cannot develop fluorosis.
Fluorosis or a white spost on teeth is a purely cosmetic condition, not a disease and does not affect the health of the teeth, it may even make the teeth more resistant to decay.
The risk of developing fluorosis (white spots on teeth) exists until the age of eight because teeth are still forming under the gums. Although the risk of developing fluorosis in adult teeth is associated with exposure to fluoride from the age of one, the risk of permanent front teeth is greatest at about two years of age.
How can fluorosis be prevented?
There are several steps you can take to prevent your children from being overly exposed to fluoride and the risks involved:
- For children under the age of two brush only with water.
- Use toothpastes with low fluoride content (ages 2 to 6).
- Keep toothpaste out of the reach of small children.
- Children under the age of 3 should brush their teeth by the parents and then when they grow up just help them.
- Monitor your child’s brushing to help minimize the amount of toothpaste ingested.
- Supervise the loading of their toothbrush to make sure they are using the appropriate amount of toothpaste.
- Do not use fluoride rinses for children under 6 years of age unless recommended by a dentist or other healthcare professional.
What is fluoride and why do we need it?
Read now >>> Is swallowing toothpaste dangerous?
