fluoride?

[kik]

when did you start using fluoride toothpaste with your baby?

[jensfirst]

I second this question.....all the hand outs from the public health office say to use fluoride as soon as there are teeth, but I have not been able to find a baby toothpaste that has fluoride in it....

[Nat]

I recently took my 4 yr old to a dentist (Dr. Bull) and he told me not to start giving my 2 yr old fluoride toothpaste until she turns 3, that baby toothpaste is fine til then. That's probably around the age my ds started, when he could spit it out properly.

[brymommy]

I do give my child a toothpaste with flouride as our water is not flourinated.

It's a pretty opposite topic.

I personally feel that a smidge of flouride is fine and since our water is not flourinated then I don't worry about too much.

There is a childs toothpaste with flouride. I got mine at either superstore or walmart. It was really hard to find and at the bottom of the shelf.

[organicmama]

I thought all toothpaste has fluoride in it? A friend of mine is a dental-hygienist & she gives her kids fluoride tablets...

[Benjorsam]

We were also told that because our water doesn't have flouride in it, that kids should start using a flouridated toothpaste as soon as they get teeth. We just use a smidgen of regular kids flouride toothpaste. The baby stuff without flouride does not. If you don't want to use flouridated toothpaste yet, save your money and just use water and a toothbrush.

[DuckyBug]

We use Kids Colgate. It has fluoride, and a yummy bubblegum flavour!

[Nat]

I think it's recommended to give young children fluoride supplements, NOT fluoride toothpaste, you want to make sure you're giving your child the correct amount. Dr. Sears website has info on this, including this statement:

Don't use fluoride-containing toothpastes and mouthwashes in children below the age of two, since toddlers tend to swallow toothpaste.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t030900.asp

[DuckyBug]

I was recently told by my dentist, as well as a health nurse, that we don't give fluoride supplements anymore.
I was told to use the teensyest amount of fluoride toothpaste, once a tooth has fully emerged.

Yet another time when I wish that everyone told us the same thing....

[Anonymous Posts]

It is a good idea to speak with your child's dentist to specifically ask this question. One children's dental office that I called in 2004 informed me that Victoria's water is fluoridated (and in fact it is not). The concern with very young children receiving fluoride in their toothpaste is that too much flouride can cause fluoridosis (which in part causes white patches discolouration of the teeth and can cause some pitting). Checking with your child's dentist for a recommendation about fluoride is prudent.

[Guest]

We bought the baby stuff with Winnie the Pooh on it. It has floride in it. It was recommended as soon as they have teeth.

[Teresa D.]

I used baby toothpaste (without flouride) for my dd#1 until she was somewhere in between 1 year and 18 months, then we switched to the Oral B Stages (the one with Winnie the Pooh on it. I guess I should start brushing baby dd's two newly emerged teeth!

[saucy]

Umm, I don't use toothpaste of any kind...oops?

I just haven't really thought about it, nor thought is was really necessary...DS chews on a toothbrush, and that has been the extent of our toothbrushing.

Hmm, I guess I could ask a PHN about this...but it sounds like I really won't get a straight answer? Frustrating!

[BabyFair]

We always used a light almost invisible smear of toothpaste on the brush as soon as they got teeth and encouraged them to spit as soon as they could understand it.
Routine use of flouride tablets is no longer recommended but are sometimes recommended to young kids who are prone to cavities. I seem to recall it was kids 3 years and up only if they are prone to them.

[Sunnygirl]

A small amount of toothpaste is recommended not only by both our dentists, but also by the CRD. Our dentists say that while the teeth are developing it is imperative for them to have the flouride to have them grow healthy and strong.

Victoria used to have flouride in their water, but their equipment broke years ago and they never replaced it.
Dr. Sears and other baby books are not actually good resources on this topic as water flouridation levels change by city.
I grew up with flouride in my toothpaste as well as flouridated water and have excellent teeth - as does my older sister. My younger sisters who grew up in Victoria without the flouridation had cavities.

A small smear of flouridated toothpaste cannot cause damage to teeth.