DH brushing 3yo teeth with adult paste

[Aintthatthetooth]

Just that really, turns out that DH has been putting adult Toothpaste on DS 3 toothbrush for over a month now. We have milk teeth Toothpaste in the house which he has been using for the 1 year old, but apparently everytime he's done morning or night teeth brushing over the last month or so he has been using adult Toothpaste on DS3. He said he thought he'd outgrown the baby one. To be clear, he still has all milk teeth, he's 3!
AIBU to think DH is a bit batshit for doing this and needs to stop immediately!?

Its toothpaste not cyanide. Kids toothpaste wasn't invented when I was a kid and my teeth are just fine age 60.

Our dentist recommended a small amount of adult toothpaste over ever using a kids one. Apparatus they saw loads of kids needing cavities later on as they wouldn't move on from the tasty kids paste which wasn't strong enough enough once big teeth came through

DD is 6 and has never had kids toothpaste all seems fine

He’s actually right, you can use any toothpaste for kids. Our dentist told us it’s fine to all use the same. It might taste stronger but otherwise no worries! (Except the specialist ones eg whitening that specifically say not to use under 7 years)

Our HV advised us to use adult toothpaste, but a smaller amount. A lot of the baby/toddler toothpastes don’t have enough fluoride in them. It should be 1450 ppm for both adults and children, our dentist confirmed this too x

In fairness the milk teeth one is for age 0-2. There's one called little teeth for ages 3-6 which is what we use for our 3 year old so you should be using that.

I wonder if OP's DH will get an apology?

HV advised us to use smaller amounts of normal toothpaste when baby cuts his first tooth. The kid's toothpaste has lower amounts of fluoride but that is only a good thing in areas where there is fluoride in the water. Worth checking in your area.

I'm wondering if the marketing for kid's toothpaste is causing the increase in kid's dental problems. There isn't enough fluoride in those toothpastes. I don't remember all these dental issues in the 90s and most of us drank squash and juice then.

Not all do, I'm using a kids one at the minute which has 1450 of fluoride
Most ones for over 3 have that level, I can't use mint so I'm always picking up toothpastes to look at the fluoride content!

Christ.

It says on the package whether it’s recommended for under a certain age or not. I have a 4 year old who uses normal toothpaste, and I always check to age recommendations on the package. And just use a tiny amount, and always supervise her.

I have 3 older children who all used adult toothpaste when they were little too, and I did all of the above. Their adult teeth have come through fine.

When you were a child there was no such thing as adult or child toothpaste - everyone used the same product and few people have mottled teeth. If you've got mottled teeth you probably had to take antibiotics as a child .

My dentist specifically told me to use adult toothpaste

🤣

If OPs toothpaste says age 12+ then there will be a reason for it e.g. it might be a whitening one or be too abrasive for milk teeth.

You can use adult toothpaste for children but maybe that particular one is unsuitable

There never used to be specific age groups for toothpaste. Just use small amounts. The important thing is that the teeth are being brushed.

Toothpastes never used to have all the fancy ingredients, some of which are unsuitable to use on baby teeth. If you want to use adult toothpaste then use a bog standard one not a whitening one

Our dentist told us not to bother with toothpastes marketed for children once they're able to spit it out. He said use the same as we use as it's better for their teeth.

It will be ok , just make sure they spit it all out .

I only used baby toothpaste for about six months for my (PFB) DD1. I ditched it in favour of adult toothpaste after that.

With DD2 and DD3 I never used the baby stuff at all. They just had adult toothpaste like the rest of us. No problems. All are now in their twenties.

Your DH is doing nothing wrong.

Our dentist literally told us to not bother with kiddy toothpaste when DS was that age and just use a small amount of adult stuff. YABU.

Our dentist said to use normal instead of kiddie ones

Same children's toothpaste isn't worth the money.
Dentist recommends a small amount of normal toothpaste- obviously not the whitening one.

Was just about to say the same!

Companies make children’s toothpaste so they can sell two tubes to a household instead of one. It’s just down to flavouring and packaging.

When I ran out of my daughter´s paste we used a small amount of ours but she hates the minty flavour so it´s back to the disgusting sort of strawberry colour and flavour one for her. We are both happy.

Too much fluoride can cause fluoride poisoning. All the people on here saying no difference should Google it, it's a real thing! Children's toothpaste contains less as the safe dose of fluoride is lower for children and they are less able to spit it out.

So yes, DH has been irresponsible. But as long as the kids have not been swallowing lots it is probably okay short term.