Should Your Child’s Toothpaste Have Fluoride?

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The most important thing you can do to protect your teeth at any age is brush and floss them at least twice a day. However, for children’s teeth especially, simply brushing and flossing away plaque and tartar isn’t always enough. To help boost the quality of your child’s dental hygiene routine and offer their healthy teeth optimal support, we recommend using a toothpaste that’s not only approved by the ADA, but also specifically contains fluoride in it.

What’s the point of fluoride?

When your child brushes and flosses their teeth, the goal is to remove plaque (oral bacteria and food particles) from their surfaces. This, in turn, is meant to limit their teeth’s exposure to the harmful substances that these oral bacteria can produce. For instance, certain types of bacteria that are found in plaque are known for producing acids that weaken tooth enamel. Made mostly of minerals, your child’s enamel can grow weaker in the time that plaque remains on it. However, fluoride can help strengthen the enamel faster by bonding to its weakened mineral strands.

More ways to optimize your child’s oral health

Choosing the right dental hygiene products, like fluoride-enhanced toothpaste, is an important step in helping to protect your child’s teeth long-term. That’s largely due to the mineral’s ability to strengthen their tooth enamel and protect their teeth better. In addition, you can also help strengthen your child’s tooth enamel with these few tips:

  • Try to limit their sugar consumption: Sugar is the main ingredient in the formation of bacterial acid that weakens your child’s teeth. In addition to sticking to good hygiene, children can also enjoy stronger teeth if they consume less sugar. Try to limit their exposure to it by limiting their consumption of things like candy, sodas, and fruit juices.
  • Scold them for chewing on things: Chewing on anything that isn’t food can lead to significantly weaker teeth and increased risks of experiencing tooth wear and damage. If you catch your child chewing on pens, pencils, toys, clothes, or anything else, don’t hesitate to correct them and explain why they shouldn’t.

Learn how to help strengthen your child’s teeth

An ADA-approved toothpaste with fluoride in it could do more to clean and strengthen your child’s tooth enamel against harmful oral bacteria. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.

filed under: Good Hygiene