Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is one of the best ways to keep your child’s smile healthy! It’s important to talk with your pediatric dentist, Dr. Sarah Villaseñor, to decide when, how, and how much to use to keep your child’s smile at its strongest. When used in the right amount, fluoride is one of the safest, easiest ways to prevent cavities for your little ones!
When and how should I introduce fluoride to my child?
Fluoride is found in many kinds of toothpaste, mouth rinses, and even in drinking water. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry does not give a specific age to introduce fluoride to your children, but it is dependent on each child’s risk for cavities and can be different for each child. For most children, pediatric dentists recommend starting to brush with a small (think the size of a grain of rice, not the big ribbon that you see on a toothpaste package) smear of toothpaste at age two. Children over three years old can use an amount similar to the size of a pea. Parents should supervise their children’s brushing and make sure to keep the tube of toothpaste out of reach so that little ones don’t come back for seconds if they like the taste. Most children are not able to swish and spit with fluoride rinse until they are around six years old. It’s best to discuss the use of mouthwash with your pediatric dentist before introducing this to your child.
But isn’t fluoride in drinking water?
Denver, Colorado water has a small amount of fluoride added as a public health effort to prevent cavities. Studies have shown this to be safe and helpful for growing teeth and bones. This is removed with certain types of reverse osmosis water filters, so it’s important to let Dr. Sarah Villasenor know if you use this type of water filter at home in order to make sure your child has sufficient fluoride from other sources to promote healthy teeth. The types of fluoride treatment applied at our office can be helpful additions to the low dose of drinking water. Dr. Sarah Villasenor and the team at Rise and Shine Pediatric Dentistry will work with you to make a plan for the appropriate amount of fluoride to keep your child’s smile healthy and strong!