February 4th, 2023
We commonly get asked by parents on what type of toothpaste they should use for their child! We follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines, which recommends any toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride is a protective factor to help prevent cavities on your child's teeth!
We also understand that some parents may be concerned with fluoride use. There is an alternative type of toothpaste with hydroxyapatite. We have seen some similar success with cavity prevention using hydroxyapatite, but there is not enough evidence in research that we can professionally recommend this type of toothpaste just yet. But it is an option for your family to look into if you would like!
In the end, you should choose any toothpaste that your child likes using! If your child likes it, you have a higher chance of getting your child to brush! Toothpaste comes in all colors, flavors, and designs - so make it a fun activity to have your child choose one with you when you go to the store!
May 14th, 2020
Many parents come to the office asking, "when do I start brushing my child's teeth?" The answer is - the sooner the better! Starting at birth, you want to clean your child's gums (even before they have teeth) with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. This helps keep your child's mouth clean and allows you to become comfortable with oral health for your child!
What type of toothbrush can you use? It is best to choose a soft,age-appropriate sized toothbrush. When you purchase a toothbrush, most will note at the top the softness of the toothbrush and will also give you an age range for the toothbrush size. The great part is, toothbrushes come in many fun designs and colors. You can have your child choose a color they like - it'll make brushing that much more fun!
As soon as teeth start to erupt, you can use toothpaste with your toothbrush! For children under 3 years old, you should use a tiny smear of fluoridated-toothpaste. The amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush should be about the size of a grain of rice. Once children are 3-6 years old, the amount should be increased to a pea-sized dollop. The toothpaste amount is really important because young children do not have the ability to spit out. By using the correct amount of toothpaste, your child will not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing. As always, we recommend parents to help their child brush - at least until age 7 years old! A great way to remember this is if your child can tie their shoelaces, then they can brush their teeth on their own! They have developed their hand skills at this time, but you should always check to make sure they brushed all of the hard to reach spots.
Remember to brush 2x/day! Create a routine - brush, book, bed! Brush your child's teeth, read a book together, and have them go to bed! By having a set routine every night, your child will learn that this is something they need to do every day! We will be talking later on on tips of how to make brushing fun!
