Use of fluoridated toothpastes is the most common method of reducing
dental caries. Use of fluoridated toothpaste and toothbrush serves two
important roles- (i) to deliver fluoride on the tooth surface (ii)
mechanical action of toothbrush bristles clean the tooth surface.
Fluoridated toothpaste can be introduced at 3 years of
age. Although fluoride ingestion is a concern for this age group, during
this time, most children develop the skills to expectorate toothpaste
adequately. In children less than 3 years old, the fluoride ingested is
upto 50% applied on the toothbrush, which is a cause of concern(1).
Until the child learns to expectorate efficiently, it is important
for parents to supervise their child’s brushing. Other advocate the use of
a smear of fluoridated toothpaste for children less than two years and a
pea size amount for children 2-5 years(2). Few
studies have documented the use of fluoride toothpastes in the form of
smear in children less than 3 years old. But wide consensus for fluoride
toothpastes use in this age group has not been achieved(2-4).
References
1. Richards A, Banting DW. Fluoride toothpastes. In:
Fejerskov O, Ekstrand J, Burt BA editors. Fluoride in dentistry. 2
nd
ed. Copenhagen: Munksguard; 1996. p. 328-346.
2. Mohapatra A, Muthu MS, Sivakumar N. Plaque control
measures in pediatric dentistry. In: Muthu MS, Sivakumar N,
editors. Pediatric Dentistry Principles and Practice 1st ed. Delhi:
Elsevier; 2009. p. 198.
3. Gerdin PO. Studies in dentifrices, 8: clinical
testing of an acidulated, nongrinding dentifrice with reduced fluorine
contents. Sven Tandlak Tidskr 1974; 67: 283-297.
4. Winter GB, Holt RD, Williams BF. Clinical trial of a
low-fluoride toothpaste for young children. Int Dent J 1989; 39: 227-235.