Fluoride in children's toothpaste?

Tigsteroonie

Found this in another thread but it adds to my confusion, so I thought I'd start my own thread.

Toothsmith wrote: »

Cleaning the teeth, whilst important, is not the main way to prevent tooth decay. It's good that you're using adult toothpaste, as that will have much better fluoride levels in it than children's pastes.

I use Aquafresh. On the back of the tube, it tells me that it contains Sodium Fluoride 0.32% w/w (1450 ppm fluoride).

For our boy, I bought Mr T's 'Strawberry Ice Cream Flavour Stripey Toothpaste'. On the back of the tube, it tells me that it contains Sodium Fluoride 0.32% w/w (1450 ppm F)

The dentist asked what toothpaste I was using for him, and I said 'Children's Toothpaste' without elaborating further. She said that it would be better if I used adult toothpaste because 'our water doesn't have flouride added, so he needs the flouride in toothpaste'. But doesn't the strawberry toothpaste that I'm using for him contain exactly the same level of flouride as my own?

Was she confused because most children's toothpaste doesn't contain fluoride and I've carefully selected a good one that does; or is there some subtle difference between the adult & child toothpastes that isn't immediately obvious when looking at the packet (and if so, how are we meant to know)?

Mr Toothsmith (or anybody else knowledgeable), please unconfuse me

ZsaZsa

There are differing amounts of fluoride in childrens toothpastes. In this case, you've got one with the same amount of fluoride as in the adult toothpaste, but there are some childrens toothpastes with less fluoride (1000 ppm or 1200 ppm) so in this case, your "childrens" toothpaste is exactly what your dentist is recommending. Hope this clears up the confusion

kerrydrobertson

I would think as long as its high in fluoride thats all that matters. my kids use the same one as i do with 1450 in it. I have to say i was so shocked when i first found this out a few years ago before my son got any teeth and would probably not have known if my dentist didnt point this out.

Tigsteroonie

ZsaZsa wrote: »

There are differing amounts of fluoride in childrens toothpastes. In this case, you've got one with the same amount of fluoride as in the adult toothpaste, but there are some childrens toothpastes with less fluoride (1000 ppm or 1200 ppm) so in this case, your "childrens" toothpaste is exactly what your dentist is recommending. Hope this clears up the confusion

Perhaps I was naive in thinking that 'Strawberry Ice Cream Flavour' toothpaste was for children - perhaps it's designed for adults who don't like the taste of mint!

Thanks for explaining. He much prefers the ice-cream one to my mint

Toothsmith

The level of fluoride in that kids toothpaste sounds fine.

The thing I'm not so keen on is the 'Strawberry Ice Cream' flavour.

(Not getting at you personally here - but just ranting generally!).................

Why do we believe that the only way that a kid will enjoy anything is if it tastes of sweeties? Kids have just as bigger capacity - and indeed need - to experience all sorts of different tastes and textures, so there is no need to sugar coat absolutely everything. It's true that there are some tastes and textures they might not immediately take to, but a little coaxing and repetition and they will grow up into kids your not always having to pick and poke around their diet.

I always remember a clip I once saw on 'You've Been Framed' of a baby being fed ice-cream for the first time. It screwed it's face up into a real contortion of disgust! It was really funny. But I bet those parents didn't say "Oh - He doesn't like ice cream," and never fed it to him again! Had the same thing happened on cabbage though..........?

One other thing just to mention about that flavour of toothpaste - if the child thinks it is a 'sweet' then there is a slightly increased risk that they might get into the bathroom cabinet and have a snack on it! Whilst fluoride levels in toothpastes aren't a health hazard when used as they should be - if a child ingests a whole tube - or if they sneak a little bit of it on a regular basis, then it does have the potential to do bad things.

So yes - the fluoride level in that tothpaste is OK - but I'm generally not a big fan of sweet flavoured toothpastes.

Tigsteroonie

I can understand your point, Toothsmith. It's just that I feel I have to pick the right battle - once he gets a taste of the mint, he clamps his mouth closed and it turns bedtime into quite an active fight to continue; whereas he'll calmly re-open his mouth for the strawberry, which is more conducive to a happy bedtime.

I should probably never have bought it in the first place! How about if I promise to wean him off it in a year or two when he's 'old' enough to understand what's happening?

Wellyboots6

Toothsmith wrote: »

Whilst fluoride levels in toothpastes aren't a health hazard when used as they should be - if a child ingests a whole tube - or if they sneak a little bit of it on a regular basis, then it does have the potential to do bad things.

What happens if you ingest too much toothpaste?

Sorry to ask an unrelated question, but I have seen it mentioned on a couple of tooth related threads and wondered.

I am 29 now, and have always as far as I remember swallowed my toothpaste when cleaning my teeth :eek:

Occasionally if I am cleaning my teeth in public(!) then I will spit it out, but usually I just swallow it.

Worried now!

Spendless

Thanks for this thread, as I've been wondering the same thing about a strawberry hello kitty toothpaste that says 1450 ppm.

I actually think why does the huge majority of toothpaste have to be mint flavoured? I have 2 children who can't abide mint flavoured anything, that includes sweets, ice cream, cakes and chocolate bars so it's nothing to do with it being them disliking toothpaste.

As I said on another thread there's also a toothpaste available in Boots that have lemon or lime flavour.

Tigsteroonie

Wiki: Fluoride Toxicity

Children may experience gastrointestinal distress upon ingesting sufficient amounts of flavored toothpaste. Between 1990 and 1994, over 628 people, mostly children, were treated after ingesting too much fluoride from their toothpaste. Gastrointestinal symptoms appear to be the most common problem reported.

Yes, I know it's Wiki and should be taken with a pinch of salt. But someone wrote it for a reason ...

brook2jack

The reason small children should only have a smear of toothpaste, particularly in fluoridated areas, is that in the first few years of life the enamel on the front teeth finishes forming. If too much fluoride is ingested then the teeth can develop fluorosis (White spots) that are not damaging but don't look nice.

After the age of sevenish the enamel on most of the teeth has finished developing so there is no damage to teeth swallowing toothpaste , but if you swallowed tubes and tubes it could be toxic.

Toothpaste is a medicine so should be supervised like any medicine. I do worry that fruity or sweet flavoured toothpaste could encourage a toddler to eat / swallow alot if toothpaste left in reach.

Toothsmith

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

How about if I promise to wean him off it in a year or two when he's 'old' enough to understand what's happening?

Deal So long as it's nearer a year than two!