The Proper Amount of Toothpaste for Young Children

Did you know that nearly 70% of U.S. children begin receiving dental care two years later than pediatric dental experts recommend? Most children first visit the family dentist after their third birthday has passed, but dental experts advise that a child's initial visit take place no later than a year after birth, and preferably when the first tooth appears.

Young children should be taught how to brush their teeth as early as possible, and to use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste while doing so, experts say.  Many kids like to lay on lots of paste because they enjoy squeezing the toothpaste tube.  But too much paste actually interferes with the cleansing action of brushing, so be careful to monitor the amount your child is using.

Additional pediatric dental advisories include ensuring that  children are using a toothbrush specifically designed for a child's mouth and gripping ability and have regularly scheduled dental visits (on average, every six months), beginning when the first tooth appears, but not later than 12 months of age.