Toothpaste, yes, but not much. An American study says that too much toothpaste can be harmful for young people. The cause is too much fluoride, an element that is also needed to prevent cavities.
Younger Americans put too much toothpaste on their toothbrushes. This is a fact from a study published in 2019 by the US government public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). to brush their teeth. Scientists have come to this conclusion after surveying the parents of more than 5,000 children about their children’s dental hygiene.
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The equivalent of a pea for the smallest
risk? Excessive fluoride is present in almost all toothpastes. In large quantities, this substance can lead to fluorosis, a disease characterized by stages. “A small white spot on the surface of the tooth, and in more advanced stages, by brown, brown spots”, Spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health, dental surgeon Dr. According to Christophe Lequart evening edition In 2019.
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But be careful. Fluoride is essential to prevent cavities. “If there’s a decrease in the number of cavities in the world, usually, it’s linked to fluoride,” Christophe Lequart says again. Its main action: it “Reduces attacks on enamel after meals”. It’s all a question of balance, when choosing the amount of toothpaste to spread on a children’s toothbrush.
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The French Union for Oral Health provides several tips for using the right amount of toothpaste.
It is recommended to start brushing your children’s teeth first “From the first tooth”.
From six months to 3 years, it is recommended to spread the equivalent of a grain of rice on a toothbrush.
Between the ages of 3 and 6, this amount increases to the equivalent of a pea.
And from the age of 6, it is the same amount as for adults, one to two centimeters of toothpaste on a toothbrush.
Between six months and 2 years, Christophe Lequart also recommends brushing your teeth every evening. And from 2 years, two brushings per day. Final advice, up to 6 years use toothpaste that contains 500 ppm (parts per million) fluoride or less (ie 50 mg per 100 g of fluoride).
He concludes reassuringly: “At the recommended dosage in France, there are no risks but benefits. »
