When Should a Child Use a Toothpaste?

Filtered by Oral Health Goal

Below are some tips for moms and dads on which toothpastes are suitable for kids teeth.

Children 0-2 Years Old

Once the first teeth appear, use a toothpaste to brush baby teeth. Use a thin layer of paste to brush once daily.

Children 4-7 Years Old

Brush with a kid’s toothpaste. Besides the packaging and taste, a major difference between adult toothpaste and kid’s toothpaste is that the ingredients formulated are milder for children.

Children 2-4 Years Old

Are you worried they might swallow too much fluoride because children of this age don’t know how to swallow? In fact, children should cultivate the habit of brushing their teeth as early as possible. Parents should teach their child how to brush their teeth using a fluoride toothpaste to reduce the chance of cavities and not too swallow the toothpaste containing fluoride.

Children 7-14 Years Old

Use a professional kid’s toothpaste. The tooth bud of the permanent teeth of a child under 14 years is still developing. If too much fluoride is ingested, fluorine spots would appear.

Do Kids under 2 Years Old Need to Use a Child's Toothpaste?

Before 2014, the American Academy of Dental and Paediatric Medicine recommends that children under the age of two do not need to brush their teeth with toothpaste. However, cavities among children in recent years are on the rise and dental professionals are offering new oral care recommendations. Once the first tooth appears, start cleaning with a toothbrush with paste. This reduces the chance of cavities and lets the child develop a healthy habit of caring for their teeth. A practice as natural as eating, bathing and sleeping.

How Much Toothpaste to Use?

When parents watch their child brush their teeth, notice how much toothpaste they use. Teach a child not to swallow the paste and learn to spit it out. Children under the age of three only need a rice grain size amount of toothpaste to brush their teeth twice a day. Meanwhile, children between the ages of 3 and 6 should use a bean (or pea) size amount of toothpaste to brush their teeth twice a day.