How old before you can use 'grown up' toothpaste?

[Albert]

DS (5) has decided that he can no longer stand the taste of kid's toothpaste - bubblegum or tooti fruiti - who can blame him really. So he has started using our 'adult' toothpaste. Is there any reason why he shouldn't continue, what is the difference between the two. TBH I would rather he brushed his teeth with our paste than didn't brush at all!

I have started using colgate sensitive on the dds (3 and 6). Couldnt bear the stupid tubes of kids stuff.

will check with dentist next week and see what she recommends

How strange - I was thinking of asking the same question. We ran out of kids' toothpaste a while ago and never bothered to buy anymore. Kids are 4 and 6. I think I rememeber the dentist saying when ds was 5 that he should be starting to use grown up toothpaste, but nt sure.

HV has advised me just to use small amounts adult toothpaste on my kids, 1 and 2 because our water in this area doesnt have added flouride. i think it depends on your water but the main difference between adult and kids toothpast is flouride content i think.

Some types of toothpaste say not to be used with kids nder the age of 7. Not sure why.

Child toothpaste is just a waste of money IMO. It doesn't contain enough fluoride - you should look for an adult brand that contains 1000 parts per million fluoride. Many adult brands contain more but Sainsbury's basics is perfect (and cheap). You can use normal toothpaste that contains that amount of fluoride from as soon as their teeth come through.

We were merrily doing this with ds but he cottoned on to child toothpaste (which is sweeter) when staying with his cousin and now spits ours out, sadly, so we've given in temporarily.

Oh that sounds OK. I shall abandon buying the gross, overpriced kid's stuff then

Adult toothpaste can contain too much Fluoride for children. If they use too much it can cause Flourosis, which is non removable white patches on the teeth. (also known at mottling)

Flouride is measured in PPM (parts per million) if added to drinking water it is 1 part per million (this gives maximum caries resistance) Childs toothpaste is around 500 PPM & adult toothpaste is 1400 PPM, which is way too much for a child. I have been a dental nurse for 15 years & would not consider giving my DD adult toothpast yet. (she's 2.4)

But Melissa'smummy, the optimum recommended amount of fluoride for children is 1000 ppm. Some adult brands contain this amount and are fine. Children's brands don't contain enough. So you may as well save your money and buy basic adult toothpaste for the whole family.

Our HV gave me a child's toothbrush and adult toothpaste at the appropriate check for ds. She said they didn't give children's toothpaste out anymore. With dd I had been given the milk teeth toothpaste

Also, adult toothpaste contains Triclosan, child's toothpaste doesn't.

HERE

Another reason DD won't be using adult toothpaste for some time.

Boots do Smile for ages 6-12 - applemint sounds odd but it's just a really mild mint, DS2 liked it when he used it and he's pretty picky. It has xylitol too which is beneficial (forget how!)

Edam, can I ask you where you got the 1000 ppm
"optimum recommended amount" from? Is this a daily recommendation?

Because (I have also called my ex boss to clarify) There is no recommended amount of Flouride for a child as they get enough from toothpaste (a child's brand) and via water intake. The only time that a child (or adult for that matter) would be given a recommended amount would be when they have rampant caries present.

A daily intake of 1000 ppm will cause Fluorosis.

Once they can spit it out you can use it, was what our dentist told me last week.

DD (3y9m) has children's toothpaste as she doesn't like the taste of mint - not just in toothpaste, in anything. Her teeth are good. She has never onmce complained about cleaning her teeth. The money isn't an issue for us. Her bathroom is seperate to ours - so no issue over too many tubes or anything either. So I am continuing with it if that is what she prefers.

Our dentist said today that if you rinse your mouth after brushing you don't get any benefit from the fluoride anyway

Melissasmummy's advice is correct. Plus children often tend to swallow the toothpaste before even brushing. Also the strong mint taste is too harsh for a lot of kids. At the end of the day, the mechanical cleaning of the teeth is the most important factor (and that can be done in the absence of tooth paste altogether).

Our dentist told us that ds (6.75) ought not to be using little kids' toothpaste any more, and that it was OK for dd (5.25) to start using adult toothpaste too. We didn't discuss fluoride content, though. She did say she thought Sensodyne was a good start as it is fairly bland-tasting.

However, I like the sound of the Boots "follow-on" toothpaste - thanks, Janh.

I was also told by hv that they don't give out "childs toothpaste" anymore as it has the same amount of fluoride in as adults. This was confirmed by the hygienist we saw in nov

Advice in Christchurch NZ is adult toothpaste straight away as there is no flouride in the water.

I get mum to bring the Boots one with xylitol, but if we run out I just get any normal white coloured one. I am more concerned about the colourings and flouride than anything else.

Not all areas have fluoride in the water, MM. The advice is standard dental advice, given out by dental health advisers who work with children and parents and confirmed by the British Dental Association.

Weleda make excellent toothpastes for both adults and children without nasties including SLS or triclosan. Fluoride use is questionable, I would advise people to look into it for themselves and not just blindly accept that fluoridisation is best.

I've just checked out our colgate gel ingredients and it doesn't say triclosan. With Ds (4 1/2) I use a half pea size amount and have done for 6 months.

Northener, adult toothpaste contains in the region of 1400 ppm of fluoride & child's 500 ppm.

To much fluoride can cause fluorosis & can actually mask decay until it is too late. This is called Occult Caries.

Edam, I am sorry but your advice is incorrect, chicagomum confirmed my advice as did my dentist & my old boss. Children do not need anymore fluoride than they will get from the water supply, if the water isn't fluoridated then using a child's toothpaste twice daily WILL provide enough.

DD was given adult toothpaste at the 7 month check and so I have continued using this.

Oh dear, now I'm confused! MM can you tell me at what age you (as a dental nurse) would consider it appropriate to use adult toothpaste? I'm living in Brazil so I have very little choice other than yucky kids stuff (which we have always used up to now) or adult stuff - I'll go and check the content, if it says anything. Incedently, I actually have flourosis, could that indicate that DS (5) might be more prone to it too?