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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

197 replies

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/03/2016 14:37

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 Angry Angry

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

OP posts:
Charley50 · 04/03/2016 15:11

I didn't know either. I don't think it is common knowledge!

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 04/03/2016 15:14

It's not common knowledge. My dentist only mentioned this at our last appointment and DS is 10. I think it was kind of OP to start a thread about it actually.

NameAgeLocation · 04/03/2016 15:14

I didn't know and I appreciate the warning. Thank you OP.

Original poster
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/03/2016 15:15

Thank you. You do wonder if maybe you're going mad but then you remember it's Mumsnet and there's always somebody who has to be a cunt lest we worry we've strayed onto Nethuns Wink

My children are 3 and 7. We brush the younger child's teeth and always brushed the older one's until about 6 months ago and even now only I or his dad do it about half the time.

Still at least it's not his adult teeth.

OP posts:
Huntzberger · 04/03/2016 15:16

Not common knowledge. I had no idea they should be using adult toothpaste. No HV ever mentioned toothpaste to me. Thanks OP.

Original poster
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/03/2016 15:17

It's perfectly reasonable to assume that childrens toothpaste is suitable for children

Me too. Bloody marketing bastards.

I do know it could have happened any way but why risk it? Buy the good stuff folks.

OP posts:
TheCrimsonPleb · 04/03/2016 15:18

It's very far from being common knowledge. However, as someone else said upthread I do think it's a lottery. I live in Hippy Valley and loads of people use non-fluoride toothpaste and seem to get by OK without it - although I am not regularly inspecting their gobs or even asking them about it so perhaps their mouths are in a dire old state.

BreconBeBuggered · 04/03/2016 15:19

I've never been advised about fluoride levels in children's toothpaste, and I've been a parent for 22 years seeing dentists regularly in different practices . I know not everyone chooses to use fluoride toothpastes, and it wouldn't have occurred to me that lower levels might be risky.

BabyGanoush · 04/03/2016 15:21

Thanks OP

I had no idea

I buy any old toothpaste...no longer!

CrohnicallyAspie · 04/03/2016 15:23

Thank you- my dentist recommended I continue using childrens toothpaste for my daughter (3). I was using the dentalux so next time I buy some I'll make sure I get one with more fluoride!

PS my daughter usually brushes her own teeth and I use disclosing tablets on occasion to make sure she's not missing bits.

Shakey15000 · 04/03/2016 15:24

Second that it's not common knowledge. Thanks for the heads up. We use Colgate but couldn't tell you what level of fluoride it has. But have recently started shopping at Aldi and may well have bought own/lower brand. But now I definitely won't because of this thread.

So there Grin

LovelyFriend · 04/03/2016 15:25

It is common knowledge though

Er no it isn't! It's certainly news to me - but good news.

I've always thought it children's toothpaste was some kind of con, but never thought to investigate it further and kept buying it. I did think there might be a danger/higher chance of young DC swallowing the toothpaste so that is why they have lower rates of fluoride in theirs which kid of makes sense.

My DC have always used the kids stuff, more often than not the Lidl ones and have not had a cavity yet (8 & 5). I think that there are many factors that contribute towards tooth decay, fluoride count in toothpaste just being one of them.

But I'll not be buying another tube of kiddies toothpaste again so cheers OP!

SaggingTits · 04/03/2016 15:25

I didn't know that either, always used kids stuff on my 3year old. Thanks OP

yorkshapudding · 04/03/2016 15:25

Thank you OP. I have been using Colgate children's toothpaste for 2 year old DD and had no idea I should be using the adult version!

Poppytime · 04/03/2016 15:27

I don't think it's common knowledge - I certainly had no idea, I buy my DD the under 3 toothpaste because she is 2, I thought I was buying the right stuff, that adult would be too 'strong' for her and that's why there are children's toothpastes. You aren't alone op!

Original poster
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/03/2016 15:27

Grin Shakey.

Having done my homework now there is no evidence that buying a big brand makes any difference. Apparently it's all about the fluoride ppm (parts per million). Adults should be 1350+ children 1000+

I'm already an avid label reader when I shop but you can't look out for what you don't know.

OP posts:
LovelyFriend · 04/03/2016 15:28

the Lidl/Aldi toothpaste is PROPER cheap though isn't it?
about 60p a tube!

Original poster
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/03/2016 15:30

Toothpaste doesn't need to be expensive. It just needs to have enough fluoride to be effective.

Apparently the adult Dentalux is highly regarded as comparable to big brand.

OP posts:
BillBrysonsBeard · 04/03/2016 15:31

Thanks OP! I didn't know this. I've just run out of kids toothpaste for my two year old and was wondering whether to start using the adult stuff. The advice is to contradictory!

figginz · 04/03/2016 15:32

Blimey. I did not know this. Someone told me that children's toothpaste had a lower fluoride content because very young mites (mine is only 14 months) could get fluoride poisoning if they had too much! Thanks op.

WhirlwindHugs · 04/03/2016 15:33

Out of curiosity I just checked and tesco value toothpaste is 25p for 75ml and 1450ppm, so there are other cheap options if needed.

Thanks again moving.

Original poster
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/03/2016 15:35

Thanks for checking WhirlwindHugs Flowers

OP posts:
EmGee · 04/03/2016 15:35

Don't kids' toothpastes still have over 1000ppm of fluoride? The Colgate ones I have used (age 4-6) have 1450. The one for age 3+ had 1000. I live in France and when I run out of UK toothpaste, I have to buy here and they are ALL about 500ppm. I have used them as kids don't like the taste of my toothpaste but after this thread I am chucking the kid one in the bin and pretending the neighbour's cat ate it. Also much handier to have just one tube of toothpaste.

It is really useful to be reminded of this. I don't think people do 'just' know it. I had a friend who worked in pharmaceuticals and she told me it years ago which is how I knew. The dentist has never said anything.

dementedpixie · 04/03/2016 15:36

Lots of kids toothpastes still have adult fluoride levels. Here is scotland we are advised to use toothpaste with at least 1000ppm fluoride from when the first teeth appear

TweeterandtheMonkeyman · 04/03/2016 15:36

My dentist & HV told me to use adult toothpaste. But I've bought £1 Shop kids flavoured toothpaste on occasion Blush - No parent can get everything perfectly right all the time , so don't beat yourself up OP