Toothbrushing Fun

Parents often wonder about the amount of toothpaste they should be placing on a child’s toothbrush. I love this new poster from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentisry. It is a fun, visual way to give you some guidance on how much toothpaste you need for each child. It is important not to give youner children too much toothpaste. The Fluoride in the toothpaste is very beneficial in helping the fight against decay. However, younger kids have a habit of chewing on their toothbrushes and can end up swallowing too much Fluoride. Placing just a small smear of toothpaste on the brush will decrease the chance of accidental ingestion.

Kids 3-6 generally do a better job of rinsing and spitting out the extra toothpaste so a pea size amount works out well with them. As always, parents know best. If you feel like your 3 year old will swallow the toothpaste hold off increasing the amount until he or she is older!