We want to give our kids the healthiest start to their lives. It is the same when it comes to their oral health. It is known that treating cavities is important, but preventing cavities is the best. Giving your kids a healthy smile is the biggest gift you can give them right from the start. But, to ensure this happens, we need to discuss the elephant in the room and that is “Fluoride.” Most of the water resources in the United States are devoid of natural fluorides present in them. But it is also an essential remineralizing agent for the tooth enamel. Complete absenteeism of fluoride from your child’s dental routine can be harmful to the upkeep and the overall health profile of their teeth.
Why Is Fluoride Important in Kids?
Cavities are most common in toddlers. Fluoride is essential in keeping this issue at bay and providing your teeth with the required protection they need. Studies have shown that swallowing the fluoride present in the toothpaste and other such alternatives can be harmful to your child. But, if taken in a small amount and in the medically prescribed quantities, that shouldn’t be a problem. This fluoride is important as it helps fight the acid that is created because of the food we eat.
Things to Keep in Mind While Using Fluoride for Your Toddlers:
There are some things to keep in mind while exposing your kids to fluoride in their daily oral healthcare routine.
- Use toothpaste with low fluoride content.
- While helping your toddlers brush their teeth, make sure you tilt their heads so that they automatically spit the toothpaste once done.
- Kids develop the ability to spit by the age of 3; in such a case, they can easily spit the toothpaste once done.
- In case the kids do swallow fluoride toothpaste in a large quantity, then there are chances that their stomach might get upset. Therefore, you need to see a medical practitioner as soon as possible.
How Will Fluoride Help Your Toddlers
It seems that most of the things that Fluoride does for your toddler’s oral health are positive. The protection that it offers so that the acid content built by the food eaten can be fought with easily. Although, in an ideal scenario, you should not expose your kids to soft drinks and sugary foods, but in case they are in the habit of eating sugar in some part of their diet, then fighting it with some exposure to fluoride is imperative.
Having said that, Fluoride is not the only element that can work to protect your toddler’s teeth effectively. Fluoride in union with Phosphate and Calcium is equally important. These elements can be incorporated into your child’s oral health not only through external support but also through food.
Speak to your dental practitioner to get an idea about what amount of fluoride is imperative for your child in the different stages of their age and how to introduce it in their oral health care routine.
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