The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that brushing with fluoride toothpaste should start as early as two years old or when they grow their first tooth.
Cavity prevention can begin with parents using a smear of fluoride toothpaste when brushing the teeth of their kids under the age of two and a pea-sized amount for children who are 2-6 years old.
Prior to this recommendation, parents were advised to start brushing their children's teeth when the first primary teeth, also known as "baby teeth," comes out which happens usually at age 6 or 7. Earlier than that age, they can only use water for cleaning. However, the new guideline is removing the age limit of fluoride use.
"For half a century, the ADA has recommended that patients use fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities, and a review of scientific research shows that this holds true for all ages," said ADA chairman Dr. Edmond Truelove in a press release.
The revised guidelines aim at early cavity prevention in children while minimizing their vulnerability to fluorosis or the discoloration of teeth. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that tooth decay is a common chronic problem in the United States and approximately 16 million children are suffering from untreated cavities.
Oral healthcare should be given early attention, since tooth pain can cause children from underperforming or missing school altogether. It is recommended that children visit the dentist by the age of 1. Caries are more common in early childhood than asthma and hay fever.
There are also earlier alternatives as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics. For high risk families, care should begin as early as pregnancy. It entails proactive efforts to work with pregnant women in establishing a dental home before children celebrate their first birthday.
