Gallatin Valley Pediatric Dentistry
As a parent, it is difficult to hold back the excitement of seeing your child’s first tooth, and you would want to dive in and start caring for it the best way possible. Before doing this, you need to be cautious that fluoride can cause more harm than good to your child, unlike in adults. For this reason, you may consider starting your child off with fluoride-free toothpaste before switching to regular toothpaste.
During infancy, a fluoride-free toothpaste will effectively brush your child’s teeth and keep cavities at bay. This is because children cannot keep up with spitting toothpaste, and fluoride toothpaste at this age may increase their risk of dental fluorosis. When your child is brushing your teeth at this stage, you should monitor them and encourage them to spit the toothpaste before you can gradually introduce them to regular toothpaste. While using fluoride-free toothpaste, ensure you also maintain a routine with your child brushing their teeth twice daily for about two minutes.
Once your child is grown and able to spit toothpaste, it is necessary to transition to fluoride toothpaste, and you can contact our team for advice. Usually, we will recommend a mild fruit or bubblegum flavored toothpaste for your child. This is because children can get discomfort from strong minty-fresh toothpaste, unlike adults, which may discourage them from sticking to a routine. You can test the flavor on your own first before allowing your child to use it to ensure they are comfortable. While at it, put a pea-sized toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush and ensure they brush and rinse their mouth properly once they start using regular toothpaste. For more details on transitioning your child from fluoride-free to regular toothpaste, contact our office today.