Fluoride for Children

At what age do I start giving my child fluoride toothpaste?  The American Dental Association has recently changed their views on when this is appropriate.  The most recent ADA recommendations in regards to using fluoridated toothpaste is as soon as your child gets their first tooth.  Fluoride for my child:  “To help prevent cavities, parents should use a smear (an amount about the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste for children younger than 3 years old and a pea-sized dab for those aged 3-6”.  **Previous guidelines recommended using water/non-fluoridated toothpaste to brush the teeth of children who could not spit and/or were younger than 2 years of age.  It is also recommended that they brush for 2 minutes to assure that the child has time to reach all areas. Fluoride bonds to the tooth structure making teeth more resistant to cavities.  Please work with your child to make it a fun experience and encourage good oral hygiene.  It is important to teach our children proper brushing and flossing habits when they are young so they can have a healthy dental future!  Disney has a neat little app that helps kids make sure that they are brushing as long as they need to.  Check it out at http://www.oralb.com/stages/disney-timer-app.  Call us today to make a dental checkup appointment for the little ones.