Many parents still have concerns about their children's oral health. One of these concerns the use of fluoride toothpaste in children and babies.

Here is a guide to help you find out if your children can use fluoride toothpaste and under what conditions?

When should a baby brush for the first time ?

According to the experts, brushing with a classic fluoride toothpaste should already be started when the first temporary molars are born, which is around 14 months. The little one should brush with a soft toothbrush with a small head at least three times a day, just like children and adults, dentists explain.

Conditions for using fluoride toothpaste

According to the American Dental Association, a global reference in the field, children under the age of three can indeed use fluoride toothpaste. Since 2015, parents have been strongly advised to use fluoride toothpaste to brush their babies' and children's teeth. The association's change in attitude was based on a review of a series of scientific studies and is being adopted almost everywhere in the world. The main fear of most parents is the toxicity of fluoride. However, if the amount used is controlled, there is no need to worry. For example, fluorosis, which is the appearance of stains in the form of white streaks that affect almost all of a child's developing teeth, is caused by excessive ingestion of the substance, which is why adult supervision is important.

According to the required standards, the use of fluoridated toothpaste in babies and children who cannot spit should be in an amount equivalent to a grain of rice, or 0.1 g. For those who can spit, the amount should be equivalent to a pea (0.3 g).

Dentists also point out that fluoride prevents or reduces the loss of minerals from the teeth, which is none other than tooth decay. It acts as one of the important factors for the prevention of cavities in milk and permanent teeth.

What is the best fluoride toothpaste for children?

The best advice is to check the label of the children's toothpaste. According to dentists, there are several options on the market with safe formulations for use in babies and children. It should be noted that the fluoride concentration should be between 1,100 and 1,450 ppm [parts per million] or less for children under the age of six. Parents should monitor the child's use of fluoride paste.

The following is a list of different fluoride toothpastes available on the market:

Elmex children's toothpaste

It is sold for 2.95 euros on the DocMorris website. It is a toothpaste for milk teeth adapted to children from 2 to 6 years. It is used within the framework of the care and the hygiene of the milk teeth. It must be used as of the appearance of the first milk tooth until the eruption of the first definitive tooth towards the age of 6 years. Its fluoride dosage is adapted to the needs of milk teeth.

Fluocaril Kids toothpaste gel

It is sold at the price of 5,18 euros on the site PharmaGDD. It is a toothpaste specially designed for the milk teeth of children aged 3 to 6 years. Its fluoride content helps prevent cavities while strengthening enamel and respecting your child's gums. It contains silica that provides an abrasive action, which will remove plaque from the surface of teeth.

Elgydium Kids Grenadine toothpaste

It is sold at the price of 3.76 euros at the pharmacy Lafayette. It is a toothpaste with a pomegranate scent for children aged 2 to 6 years. It is flavored with grenadine. It brings a dose of 500 ppm of fluorine adapted in the children of this age, in the protection of the milk teeth against the acid attacks responsible for caries.

The toothpaste in tube mint bio Y-Brush

It is sold at the price of 7.99 euros on the official website. Its fluoride content of 1450 ppm, the dosage recommended by the French Union of Oral Health, can effectively strengthen the tooth enamel, fight against the formation of cavities, fight plaque and act against bacteria. Its transparent and fluid paste allows a more effective and fast brush washing. 

You can choose the Y-Brush organic mint toothpaste because it protects your child's sensitive and fragile gums. The Decyl Glucoside and Sodium Hydroxide that make it up allow a softer cleaning of your teeth.

We hope you have understood that it is especially important to make an appointment with the dentist. During childhood it is essential to visit a dentist, even if the child has no apparent oral problems. This is the best way to get a more thorough check-up and to prevent certain diseases. Ideally, a visit should be made every six months.