What we see in toothpaste commercials isn't reality. We don't need that much toothpaste to clean our teeth or our children's teeth.
Let's see how much toothpaste we should put on our children's toothbrushes and our own.
* From the eruption of the first tooth until age 3: Use toothpaste with 1000 ppm fluoride. How much? The equivalent of a small amount on the toothbrush.
* Between the ages of 3 and 7: toothpaste with 1000 ppm of fluoride. The amount is the size of a grain of rice.
* For children over 7 years old: Pasta with 1450 ppm of fluoride. A pea-sized amount.
When brushing is finished, it is important to spit out the excess, but never rinse with water so that the fluoride can have its effect in the mouth. There is no need to be afraid that they will swallow the toothpaste; they will not be poisoned by it.
When children are small, brushing should be done by their parents, but as they grow and gain skill they can do it on their own, under supervision.
Always remember to take your children to their dental checkups; prevention is our motto.
