A.D.A Recommends Fluoride Toothpastes for Young Children

The American Dental Association, A.D.A, has come out with a set of guidelines for cleaning children's teeth

The association reviewed past 17 studies to test the efficacy and safety of fluoride toothpastes on toddlers. It was found that fluoride in toothpastes repairs weakened tooth enamel and protects it from decaying. Children who do not receive sufficient amount of fluoride are at increased risks of tooth decay, says A.D.A.

The ADA issued new guidelines urging parents to start as early as a few days after baby's birth by cleaning the mouth and gums with a clean cloth or pads. Parents are recommended to use fluoride toothpastes daily twice in amounts no more than a size of a pea or a smear for children aged 3 to 6. It also emphasized the importance of monitoring fluoride usage as; its ingestion from toothpastes causes discoloration, white spots or streaking of the teeth. It adds it must be used in appropriate amounts and children must spit out the toothpaste as soon as they can.

Dr Jonathan Shenkin, spokesperson of A.D.A said, "We want to minimize the amount of fluoride consumption to reduce the risk of Fluorosis while simultaneously adding a preventive tool for kids 2 and under that we haven't recommended previously. Only a tiny amount of toothpaste should be smeared on the brush since some youngsters are likely to ingest some of the fluoride."

He also said that many parents avoid using fluoride toothpastes as they think their children do not know when to spit it out , hence parents can assist their children in brushing properly and simple measures like these help children avoid a lifetime of dental problems, reports New York Times.

Many children develop a full set of teeth and enlargement of jaw space by the time they are three years old. Habits like sucking thumbs, pacifiers dipped in honey, sugary drinks or even going to bed with a milk bottle allows cavity causing bacteria to pass through saliva in the mouth. It is also called as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay that mainly affects the upper front teeth. Parents must help children inculcate oral hygiene habits like regular dental checkups, flossing, brushing daily twice and avoiding swallowing of toothpaste.

Toothpastes are required to carry warnings against using it for children below two years without doctor's advice.