How much fluoride is safe?

wannabe_sybil

My little boy insists on brushing his teeth four or five times every day. He is just about three. How much fluoride is safe?

I have been using Sainsbury fruit toothpaste on the understanding that there was no fluoride, but I can't get it any more and all the little ones toothpastes I have seen have fluoride in.

I am not against fluoride, but my little boy likes to try and eat the toothpaste off the brush, and I am concerned about this.

Many thanks for any help.

coldstreamalways

Most children's toothpaste have much lower Fl- levels than adult ones and are perfectly safe if used correctly. He is unlikely to poison himself, however, the risk is causing Fluorosis of his adult teeth. This is white/brown mottling in most cases.

He should really be supervised to brush his teeth at this age and encouraged to spit the paste out rather than swallow it. You should only use a small amount (very small pea sized amount) on his brush. Four or five times a day is probably excessive though. Maybe try to limit it to two or three times?

It is very good for his teeth but at the correct dose, where are you from? Do you know if the water is Fluoridated?

wannabe_sybil

Thank you coldstreamalways.

I have been rationing the amount of toothpaste on the brush, and I have been supervising and trying to encourage the spit :rolleyes:. As far as I know the local water is not fluoridated.

I have made a rod for my own back as at first I encouraged it because it was a good habit to get into.

Thank you for your help.

lostinrates

I think some of the health shop alternatives are flouride free if its a habit you're not to worried about stopping....

...otherwise you could limit toothpaste to three times a day and let him use the tiniest amount of bicarb for the other brushes...although I'd be worried that might push him the other way to stopping!

wannabe_sybil

lostinrates - thank you - I shall check out the health store ones asap.

I am happy to break the habit but certainly I think in the short term it will be a good idea to cut back on the fluoride.

When they are at nursery he brushes after every meal, and if I follow that with morning and evening here, it all adds up.

Toothsmith

Don't go to fluoride free.

Fluoride in toothpaste is one of the best things a kids teeth can get.

Just make sure the amount on the brush is very small (smaller than pea-sized if he's doing it that often) and encourage spitting out.

The harm he's doing himself by brushing this often is nothing compared to the harm switching to a non-fluoride toothpaste would do!

wannabe_sybil

I have just got a new tube of children's fruit flavoured toothpaste. I already only use a small amount, but I shall see about limiting his brushing and encouraging his spitting and by the time he has used up the toothpaste I should be able to know whether I should perhaps use alternate fluoride/non fluoride or what.

I am not very educated about all of this, and I really want to do the right thing by my son. He is due his next check up with the dentist in February, and the last check up was very rushed. I shall bring this up then (if I haven't broken the habit).

I really appreciate all of the advice.

Toothsmith

Why go for fruit flavour?

Maybe he'd do it a bit less if it was just using regular adult minty stuff?

I might have said before, I'm not a big fan of 'kids' toothpastes. I don't see the use of them.

wannabe_sybil

Toothsmith - as I said, I am not very educated about these things. I have neglected my own teeth (phobia) and I don't want to let down my little boy. I thought you had to give little ones children's toothpaste because of the lower fluoride. Also I thought that they were gentler, though on reflection I have absolutely no idea what that means.

When he has had a choice of mint and fruit he has tried to insist on both flavours, one after another, at tooth brushing time.

I am just not sure what to do for the best. Provisionally limit brushing, encourage rinse and spit and keep to the children's toothpaste for now. Does that sound okay?

coldstreamalways

Hmmm, it's so hard! Not having kids I can't empathise with actually making them do something but, here goes:

He should spit (rather than errr, swallow!) and not rinse because it's the "topical" effect the Fl- has on his teeth that is really really good and if you rinse straight afterwards, you spit all the minty Fl- goodness down the plughole?

Does that make sense? Sorry if not, it's been a long day!

If he swallows, the Fl- can have an effect on the development of his permanent, adult dentition.

Hope that helps. You seem to be doing really well so keep going!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fork86

Things have changed a lot in a recent guidance published by the Department of Health and BASCD. Read section 1, page 10: (http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_078759.pdf)

It is now advised that children up to the age of 3 now use a 'smear' of toothpaste that has a concentration NO LESS than 1000 ppm F-.

Children between the ages of 3-6 should use a 'pea-sized' amount of toothpaste containing between 1,350 - 1,500 ppm of toothpaste.

Anything less than these amounts has been proven to be MUCH less effective.

Make sure your child doesn't rinse with water after he brushes his teeth. Once he moves onto normal adult toothpaste with the above concentrations (depending on what age your son is), the taste is likely to put him off trying to consume it.

(Edit: my point is that you should stop buying kids toothpast as it does not contain enough fluoride for effective 'topical' action).