Use of fluoride toothpaste should begin
with the eruption of the first tooth.
When fluoride toothpaste is used for
children younger than 3 years, it is
recommended that the amount be
limited to a smear or grain of rice size
(about one-half of a pea). Once the child
has turned 3 years of age, a pea-sized
amount of toothpaste should be used.20,21
Young children should not be given
water to rinse after brushing because
their instinct is to swallow. Expectorating
without rinsing will both
reduce the amount of fluoride swallowed
and leave some fluoride in the
saliva, where it is available for uptake
by the dental plaque. Parents should
be strongly advised to supervise their
child’s use of fluoride toothpaste to
avoid overuse or ingestion.