Online as of April 8, 2018

Excerpts:

Use Toothpaste and Mouthrinse with Fluoride

Toothpaste with fluoride has been responsible for a significant drop in cavities since 1960. Look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance to make sure it contains fluoride.

• Brush twice a day (morning and night) or as directed by your dentist and physician.
• For children younger than 3 years, start brushing their teeth as soon as they start to appear in the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice.
• For children 3 to 6 years old, use no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• Always supervise your child’s brushing to make sure they use the right amount and try to get your child to spit out most of the toothpaste.

Mouthwash with fluoride can help make your teeth more resistant to decay, but children six years or younger should not use it unless it’s been recommended by a dentist. Many children younger than 6 are more likely to swallow it than spit it out because their swallowing reflexes aren’t fully developed…

Take a Fluoride Supplement

Available by prescription only, fluoride supplements come in tablet, drop or lozenge forms. They are recommended only for children ages six months to 16 years living in areas without adequate amounts of fluoride in their community drinking water and who are at high risk of developing cavities. Talk to your dentist, pediatrician or family physician about your child’s specific fluoride needs.

*Original online as of April 8, 2018, at https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/fluoride?source=PromoSpots&medium=ADA-FIWpage&content=Fluoride

*A pdf copy of this website is at http://fluoridealert.org/wp-content/uploads/mouth-healthy.april-8-2018.pdf

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