Choosing Proper Child Toothpaste

As a top children’s dentist in South Jordan and Tooele, we at Southridge Pediatric Dentistry are experienced when it comes to toothpaste for kids. With over 16 million children dealing with tooth decay issues each year, the kind of toothpaste children use can make a huge difference.

What are some of the considerations you should make as a parent when your kids dentist isn’t around to make suggestions? Let’s take a look.

ADA Seal

For starters, the most important factor in any toothpaste you purchase for your child is the seal of approval from the American Dental Association, or ADA. This seal will be easy to find on the box, generally in a very prominent location. The ADA has detailed testing procedures that make sure the product does what it says it’s going to and is healthy for your child’s mouth, and you should never purchase a product that hasn’t gone through these procedures.

Fluoride Considerations

For over 50 years, the ADA has recommended using toothpaste that contains fluoride. This is to help prevent cavities, primarily. Make sure your child does a good job spitting all the toothpaste out and rinsing their mouth thoroughly when using toothpaste with fluoride, as too much fluoride ingested into the stomach can lead to fluorosis (this is rare and takes a pretty hefty exposure).

Flavor Areas

A big challenge for some parents is getting kids to brush twice a day for two minutes per session, but a toothpaste that tastes great can help here. Many children find mint or other traditional toothpaste flavors too intense, and prefer milder flavors in berry or gum flavors that they enjoy. If possible, hit the double whammy and buy a container with some of their favorite cartoon characters or superheroes on it.

Abrasive Avoidance

Mild abrasives are good for removing debris, but they can also remove enamel. For children, try to avoid whitening toothpastes that have abrasives like calcium carbonate, silicates or others – these can cause more harm than the good they provide.

For more on toothpaste selection, or to find out more about how a pediatric dentist can help your child, speak to the staff at Southridge Pediatric Dentistry today.