Enter “children’s toothpaste” in the search box of a certain treasure, a variety of products come, some claiming to be edible, some claiming to be natural, some claiming to be fluoride free …… makes people dazzled. Mothers must be in a difficult position to choose the right toothpaste for their babies in the vast sea of products. Today let’s get to know the familiar and unfamiliar necessity – toothpaste. What is fluoride toothpaste? The most common problem that mothers face when choosing toothpaste is whether they should choose fluoride toothpaste for their babies. First of all, let’s get to know “fluoride”. Fluorine is one of the elements that exist widely in nature, and the human body contains a certain amount of fluorine, mainly in the bones and teeth. The U.S. government has been adding fluoride to drinking water since the 1960s, which has significantly improved the public’s dental caries condition. A study shows that adding fluoride to drinking water reduces the number of decayed milk teeth by 60% and the number of decayed permanent teeth by nearly 35%. The current drinking water standard in China stipulates that the fluoride content in drinking water should not exceed 1.0mg/L. The website of Guangzhou Water Bureau shows that the fluoride content of drinking water supplied by 19 water plants in Guangzhou is less than 0.4mg/L. Besides adding fluoride to drinking water, the most common form of fluoride is fluoride toothpaste. The principle of fluoride to prevent dental caries Fluoride ion can combine with hydroxyapatite on the surface of teeth to form more stable fluorinated hydroxyapatite; fluoride ion can inhibit the reproduction of caries-causing bacteria in the mouth; promote the remineralization of enamel. Safety of fluoride toothpaste Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry both recommend that teeth should be brushed with fluoride toothpaste as soon as they begin to erupt, with the recommended amount of toothpaste being the size of a grain of rice for children under the age of three and the recommended amount being the size of a pea for children over the age of three. If the body consumes too much fluoride, it will cause fluorosis, which mainly manifests as dental fluorosis and fluorosis bone. Babies under the age of three often eat toothpaste like candy, which is exactly what mothers are worried about. Generally speaking, the fluoride content of children’s toothpaste is 0.05%-0.095% (500ppm-950ppm), taking a 60g children’s toothpaste as an example, the fluoride content is 0.03g-0.057g, using it for 90 days, then the daily exposure to fluoride is 0.33mg-0.63mg. For a baby aged 7-12 months, the daily fluoride intake is 0.5mg, with an upper limit of 0.9mg; even if the baby swallows the fluoride toothpaste completely, it is only 0.33-0.63mg. For a baby under three years old, the use of 60g of toothpaste will be more than 3 months for each use of the size of a grain of rice; for three years For children over three years old, the swallowing reflex is already established, which means that they can spit out the toothpaste without swallowing it. Therefore, fluoride toothpaste is safe for children regardless of whether they swallow it or not, and mothers can use it without worry. Other common ingredients in toothpaste In addition to fluoride, there are also some foaming agents, aromatics and other ingredients in toothpaste. A few common ingredients are explained next. Sorbitol (Sorbitol): It has the function of absorbing moisture and retaining water, and is often used as a food additive in toothpaste, as well as in chewing gum, candy and other foods. Propylene glycol: often used in combination with sorbitol as a wetting agent. Silicon dioxide: used as a thickening agent and anti-caking agent, mostly used in egg powder, milk powder and other food products. Sodium polyacrylate: thickening agent, excipient, commonly used in flour, toothpaste and cosmetics. Sodium lauryl sulfate: emulsifier, foaming agent, commonly used in toothpaste and shampoo. How to choose the right toothpaste? Well, back to the question at the beginning. What kind of toothpaste should we choose for our baby? To simplify things, just choose a fluoride toothpaste. As for all-natural, organic toothpaste, it’s all just a gimmick of the business. How to use toothpaste correctly? Once you choose the right toothpaste, how to use it is the key! You should brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as they erupt. Use a fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice for babies under three years old and a pea-sized fluoride toothpaste for children over three years old. Fluoride toothpaste containing 0.05% (500 ppm) of fluoride is recommended for babies under three years of age. Although swallowing toothpaste is not a problem for babies, we do not encourage swallowing, so prepare gauze or paper towels when brushing to wipe out toothpaste in time to minimize swallowing. Brush twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. It is recommended that the morning brushing be scheduled after breakfast.