Aibu to warn you to check your children's toothpaste?

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

One of my dc has developed tooth decay. I'll put this straight out there so as not to drip feed. We have been quite careful with dental health and hygeine and couldn't understand why it had happened.

So I checked the kids' toothpaste. It's Dentalux for children 0-6 years, bought in Lidl and it has only half the recommended minimum amount of fluoride for children at 500ppm. NHS say for children between 3-6 years it should "contain more than 1000ppm fluoride".

I'm really cross about this. I think if a product is on sale it should meet at least the minimum standard

So please go and check your children's toothpaste now so you don't end up feeling as shit as I do.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fluoride

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

I've heard of this before, someone warned me about buying toothpaste from pound shops etc, something about it being imported from other countries who have different standards for their toothpaste.

[daffodilsandbooks]

I would always use one of the leading brands for toothpaste personally.

[PortobelloRoad]

To be fair to them, it may come from a different country where the guidelines are different, lots of non British products in Lidl. I think Dentalux is german.

However, you bought this in the UK, and Lidl should know if they're selling a product that doesn't match the UK guidelines, maybe drop them an email?

Sorry about your dc's teeth. For what it's worth, we did absoultely everything to the letter with their teeth as kids, one of them still got a little bit of decay, these things can happen and you obviously care so it's not like they're being neglected or anything. Be gentle on yourself.

[SmellySourdough]

the tooth decay might also just be because teeth are not cleaned properly or long enough...
or because the teeth are weak and damage easier than others.

[Branleuse]

sorry that has happened, but lots of people get decay even with heavily flourided toothpaste and many peoples teeth are perfectly fine with all the flouride free stuff. It isnt your fault, nor is it the fault of the toothpaste who state quite clearly the amount of flouride, so its up to you which one you buy

[PurpleThermalsNowItsWinter]

It was the most useful message from the HV - to check the fluoride levels on toothpaste before buying. YABU.

[WhirlwindHugs]

That's really frustrating. I would be cross too.

Interestingly at my youngest's 2.5 year check recently the HV said the latest advice is for children to be using adult toothpaste (with adult amounts of flouride!) and make sure they spit after, which I hadn't heard.

[SaveSomeSpendSome]

You should not use "children's toothpaste" anyway.

Its a gimmick to make people buy it. Children need the standard adult toothpaste. 1350 fluoride in it is best.

My dentist and health visitor told me to use adult toothpaste from day one.

[LidikaLikes]

Interesting! Will keep an eye on what the shops are selling.

YANBU.

[OohMavis]

We use very low fluoride toothpaste on purpose and we all have perfect teeth

[WhirlwindHugs]

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/Careofkidsteeth.aspx

[ProfGrammaticus]

The water in our area of the UK isn't fluoridated. Our dentist told me to buy 1400ppm toothpaste, said it didn't matter what I bought apart from that.

[mejon]

I use Morrison's own brand 3+ for my DCs as they don't like very minty toothpastes. It has 1450ppm fluoride - just like the adult Colgate one I use. The under 3 ones tend to be around 1000ppm from what I recall.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

I've never had any advice from a HCP about buying toothpaste so I don't think I'm at all unreasonable to warn people to check.

I have emailed Lidl. I'd never have bought it if I'd known.

I do know that tooth decay can just happen but the evidence suggests that using brushing twice a day for two minutes helps. We do supervise brushing and do brush for the children quite often. But if the toothpaste doesn't have enough fluoride in it there is no evidence it will be as effective.

So go and check. Not you sanctimonious few who knew all along (lucky you ) I mean everyone else who quite likely doesn't.

[RoseDog]

Our dentist and nursery/school always told us to use standard adult toothpaste and do not rinse after brushing.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Just as well I'm not delicate or i might be upset by all the "you should have known" posts. I'm not psychic.

I bought children's toothpaste to encourage mine to use it. They didn't like mint so I honestly thought I was doing the right thing.

I'm not an idiot, I make an effort to stay informed and I don't want anyone else to end up here.

[SaveSomeSpendSome]

It is common knowledge though

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

No it isn't.

[OohMavis]

How old are your DC, OP? I read somewhere it's best to brush for them until they're coordinated enough to tie their own shoelaces, and even beyond. If they're brushing their own teeth regularly and missing spots, or not brushing at the right angle etc, it could explain the decay.

[WhirlwindHugs]

SaveSome what is your problem? Lots of people aren't dental experts, they do whatever they were last advised to do or buy products marketed as suitable for children. That's not unreasonable!

Moving, I hope treatment isn't too stressful and thanks for spreading the word.

[WhereDidAllThoseYesterdaysGo]

Thank you OP. I didn't know that.

[LuckySantangelo1]

Well I'm with the OP. Had no idea children should be using adult toothpaste.

[trulybadlydeeply]

Moving thank you for this - I have four children and I had no idea!

[ApocalypseSlough]

Me neither. It's not common knowledge.

[whatdoIget]

It's perfectly reasonable to assume that childrens toothpaste is suitable for children. I did know that you're meant to use a small amount of adult toothpaste. I can't remember where I found out though. Sorry about your child's teeth op.