If you’re wondering just how much toothpaste to use when your kiddo brushes, you aren’t alone. Before you let your littles squeeze the entire tube out for one major brushing session, check out what a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has to say about it.
According to data from the CDC, plenty of preschoolers are overdoing it when it comes to the amount of toothpaste used on a daily basis. More specifically, almost 40 percent of kiddos ages three through six use more than the recommended amount of toothpaste to brush.
Valentine's Day is approaching! As your little ones enjoy all those sweet treats, make sure they take extra care of their teeth by brushing after each sugary snack. #NCDHM https://t.co/n2SWzUAZN1 pic.twitter.com/kcKKtaikIq
— American Academy of Pediatrics (@AmerAcadPeds) February 3, 2019
Even though the fluoride in toothpaste helps to prevent cavities, in excessive quantities it may do more harm than good. Too much of it and your child could end up with dental fluorosis—in other words, with discolored teeth.
So how much toothpaste should your child use? The CDC (along with other in-the-know groups such as the American Dental Association) recommended tots under three using no more than a rice-grain sized smear each time they brush. Children ages three through six can use a slightly larger pea-sized amount of paste.
Or try this mom’s super clever hack to know exactly how much toothpaste to use.
—Erica Loop
Featured Photo: Collusor via Pixabay
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