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Original poster

Childrens toothpaste....is this true?

37 replies

mumzyof2 · 19/12/2007 21:09

I read on another thread the other day, that one mumsnetters uncle was a dentist, and he says that childrens toothpaste, in areas where there is no fluoride in the water, is useless because the fluoride levels in the toothpaste are so low.
I was wondering if this is true.
We have no fluoride added to our water.
I know childrens toothpaste (usually) has 500pcm of fluoride in, and adults 1500pcm (I think thats right?), so do children need more where there is no fluoride in water?

OP posts:
meepingaroundthechristmastree · 19/12/2007 21:11

my HV gave me 2 large tubes of adult toothpaste and said that the first teeth toothpaste was not meant to be any good. Any dentists out there who can confirm?

merryTissmas · 19/12/2007 21:15

we have a private water supply with no fluoride, and dentist told us to use toothpaste with at least 1000 ppm fluoride. Most children's toothpaste has less than this, and dd doesn't like the level of mint in adult paste. Toms of Maine do a strawberry toothpaste with 1000ppm.

chocolatespiders · 19/12/2007 21:17

my dentist said kids ones are fine until adult teeth come through.. then you need adult toothpaste, - which should not be swallowed

macleans do a mild mint one.....

chocolatespiders · 19/12/2007 21:19

sorry meant to add that if the floride is high in paste and it is given to a child who hasnt learnt to not swallow it it isnt meant to be very good for them, (not sure why though???- anyone)

sarahSILVERbells · 19/12/2007 21:19

My dentist says the same as merryTissmas - has to have 1000ppm fluoride. We use the Oral B one which has one design for the girls and another for the boys (ds not too keen on the princess design when they hadn't got any of the alien design!)

Original poster
mumzyof2 · 19/12/2007 21:20

So why do all childrens toothpastes have low levels of fluoride in? Its silly. Is there more than one kind of childs toothpaste with 100ppm in?

OP posts:
FlossALumpOfPud · 19/12/2007 21:22

i think milk teeth ones are increasing the amount?

howtheBOOKTHIEFstolechristmas · 19/12/2007 21:23

I heard that about it depending on fluoride in the water. I suppose the thinking is that if the child is getting fluoride from their water supply then they could end up with too much if they used adult toothpaste as well.

We don't have fluoride in the water though and so the toothpaste we got from the HV has 1000pcm.

JackieNoel · 19/12/2007 21:23

If children (or anybody for that matter) swallows too much fluoride, it can cause dental fluorosis, which, apparently is: "a harmless cosmetic discoloring or mottling of the enamel, visible by chalky white specks and lines or pitted and brown stained enamel on developing teeth".
(I googled)

onepieceoflollipop · 19/12/2007 21:24

We have fluoride in our water; the dentist made a point of advising me to only use low fluoride children's toothpaste for dd1. (live in the Midlands)

onepieceoflollipop · 19/12/2007 21:25

JackieNoel I think that is what the dentist said what happen to our dd if we used "normal" fluoride toothpaste. We have a 500pcm toothpaste but it didn't mean anything to me and the explanation on the tube was confusing and seemed poorly-worded (to me anyway).

dingdongmerrilyonFLIER · 19/12/2007 21:27

our area has no fluoride added and we are told to get the childrens toothpast with at least 1200 pcm, you can get it, just have to watch out for it. This was recommended by a dental nurse that comes round the nurseries btw

chocolatespiders · 19/12/2007 21:28

suppposed to use low floride one til 6 years old..... becuase swallowing to much floride is harmful, people think high floride = good but it doesnt until a certain age

JackieNoel · 19/12/2007 21:29

Lots of information about fluoride here (where I got the dental fluorosis info from).

Original poster
mumzyof2 · 19/12/2007 21:30

onepiece, was that the milk teeth (I think thats the one i mean) where its two completely different explanations on how much to use, and misses out an age range?
I got quite mad about it!
Not sure what that says about me?!

OP posts:
ja9ladiesdancing · 19/12/2007 21:36

this is dh's hobby-horse. dentist has told him several times not to use children's toothpaste on los.. to the extent that he even made me throw out the lion-king tube my mum had bought ds...

having said that might now need to go and buy some as 9mo dd spews when we use adult toothpaste - flavour must be too strong.

onepieceoflollipop · 19/12/2007 21:37

Yes mumzyof2 - a white tube and I can't make head or tail of it! It must be me as well as you. I would offer to go and re-read it again, but have just had large glass of wine. (part of my Christmas warm-up/preparations!)

Original poster
mumzyof2 · 19/12/2007 21:38

Thats he thing, my ds hates anything too minty, even the milkteeth one. I would use an adult one but I know he'll hate it.

OP posts:
Original poster
mumzyof2 · 19/12/2007 21:39

Yes onepiece, it is VERY badly worded, and makes no sense at all.

OP posts:
onepieceoflollipop · 19/12/2007 21:42

I kind of think it would be ok if we could persuade dd1 to use a "pea sized" amount as recommended. She prefers an amount that is more of a carrot sized. (that's the only other vegetable that sprang to mind!)

JackieNoel · 19/12/2007 21:44

Lol at 'carrot sized'. If you use an electric toothbrush, you can't get as much toothpaste on it, I find.

myjobismum · 19/12/2007 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onepieceoflollipop · 19/12/2007 21:48

But aren't they the same teeth? - The ones they have from aged 0-6 I mean?

See, as Mumzy and I have been saying it is very unclear!

myjobismum · 19/12/2007 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PaulaYatesbiggestfan · 19/12/2007 21:56

my ex b/f (thank the lord for a very lucky escape!) heads up a huge campaign against the use of fluoride in toothpaste/water

will try to find a link