Trying to get the kids to brush their teeth can be quite the mission, especially at bedtime when all they want to do is curl up under their duvets.
Taking care of your teeth is essential, especially at a young age when they’re still growing and developing. The last thing you want is a youngster with a mouth full of cavities.
Flossing, regular dental check-ups and using the right products is crucial for youths, but it turns out some are making a major mistake when brushing their pearly whites.
A new study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, found that youths are using too much toothpaste which can cause major damage for developing teeth, as well as discolouration and pitting.
Nearly 40 percent of youths between the ages of three and six-years-old are using far too much toothpaste, the study found. Children aged between two and three-years-old should use a rice grain-sized amount and kids over the age of three should use a pea-sized amount, according to the experts.
Untray T. Brown, DDS, MPH, of NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Center for Family Dental Medicine explained the dangers of using too much toothpaste: "For children, there's a constant growth process going on, so to ingest a lot of fluoride during that period, that can interrupt the development of their tooth, specifically the enamel."
Children’s teeth go through numerous changes until they are around eight or nine-years-old. Encouraging your children to practice a strong dental hygiene routine is so important.