Last time we talked about effectively caring for children's teeth. Showing them how to brush correctly, monitoring their diets, and offering them flouride in water and toothpaste/mouthwash are the most effective ways to maintain a healthy smile. There are many varieties of products on the market however, and it's hard to tell which work well and which don't.
FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTES/MOUTHWASHES
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry flouride toothpastes should be offered at 2 to 3 years of age WITH SUPERVISION. Only a very small amount of paste should be used on the brush, and the child should be encouraged to spit out any extra.
Mouthwash that contains flouride should not be introduced until age 6, for very much the same reason. It is very important children be old enough to spit out the excess versus swallow it. We need to remember that FLUORIDE CAN BE DANGEROUS TO SMALL CHILDREN. The levels found in drinking water are safe, but drinking a bottle of mouthwash could be deadly. Make sure to keep all fluoride products out of reach when their use can not be supervised.
TARTAR CONTROL TOOTHPASTE
I remember when tartar control toothpastes first came out. They were more expensive, tasted better, and came in bigger packaging...BUT do they do anything more than the average paste? The answer is a resounding NO. Tartar control toothpastes don't do a very good job of taking away tartar, or target the areas where it makes a difference. Effective brushing and flossing, and use of a flouride toothpaste with do a better job.
TOOTHPASTES FOR SENSITIVE BRUSHERS
I also remember the gritty taste of sensitive toothpaste back in the late 70s. A lot has changed. Now they are smoother, and taste just as good as regular pastes. Again, the most important question is DO THEY WORK? 85% of sensitive brushers say yes! Most regular users are very satisfied.
If your child needs a sensitive toothpaste, there might be an underlying problem at work. You don't need a cavity to feel pain. These days dentists can place a protective coating on your teeth to prevent cavities in the making. Make sure any tooth pain is addressed in your dentist's office before switching to a different paste.
WHITENING PASTES
My dentist, the brilliant man that he is, gave me some wonderful advice when I was a preteen. I was so concerned about the color of my teeth and wanted them bleached. His advice? "Use a softer brush." By using a hard toothbrush and scrubbing my teeth, I was actually removing enamel. The inner layers of your teeth are not only naturally darker, they stain easier too. By brushing with a soft brush, 2 minutes, 3 times a day, I evenutally got my white teeth back.
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