New Recommendation for Brushing Baby Teeth

The American Dental Association (ADA) is offering new advice for the parents of young children. Previously, the ADA recommended that parents start using a pea-size amount of toothpaste on baby teeth, beginning at 24 months of age. The ADA now recommends that, twice daily, parents use a smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth as soon as they erupt. Once children are three to six years old, the amount of toothpaste used with each brushing should be increased to a pea-size drop. This new recommendation is being made to combat the increasing number of cavities among the very young. At the same time, only the tiniest amount of fluoride toothpaste should be used to minimize the risk of “fluorosis.” It is important to note that keeping heathy baby teeth will pave the road for healthy adult teeth

P.S. “Fluorosis” is a condition caused when youngsters ingest too much fluoride, which can lead to mild tooth discoloration (white spots or streaking).