Pasadena, Deer Park Texas Kids Dentist
In general, children should not use toothpaste until they are at least 18 months old – and when you do start using toothpaste, make sure it is a safe “children’s toothpaste” made especially for young ones. Young children have different dental needs than grown-ups – and children’s toothpaste is made for this purpose.
What to look for in a children’s toothpaste:
• Safe to swallow: Most young children tend to swallow while brushing, rather than spitting out the toothpaste – so make sure that your children’s toothpaste is formulated with this in mind.
• Use only a pea-sized amount: Don’t use too much toothpaste – just squeeze a small, pea-size (or smaller) amount onto the toothbrush. Your child doesn’t need much toothpaste to be effective, and you don’t want your child to swallow too much toothpaste.
• Consider low-fluoride children’s toothpaste: Fluoride is an important element of keeping teeth healthy and strong, but too much fluoride can be harmful for young children. I started Emily out on fluoride-free toothpaste. Then after she had mastered spitting out the toothpaste we moved up to children’s toothpaste that contains fluoride.
• Fun flavors: Try some different flavors of toothpaste and see what your child likes. Some children – especially at the toddler stage – are very picky about flavors and might be reluctant to use a certain flavor of toothpaste. So be prepared to buy a few different varieties of children’s toothpaste and see which one is your child’s favorite.
Also, remember it is important to also floss your child’s teeth. Emily loves her Princess Floss. You can buy children flossers at the grocery store. The children flossers are plastic holders that have a small amount of floss. Emily likes to hold the flosser and tries to floss. Then I take over and floss her teeth.
Remember: brushing your child’s teeth is part of parenting, and you need to start at a young age. By taking the time each day – before bedtime and in the morning – to clean your child’s teeth with a specially-formulated children’s toothpaste, you will be helping to create a lifetime of healthy dental habits and happy smiles.
Your children are a precious gift. Let Dr. Nugent take care of their dental needs. Dr. Nugent loves working with kids and strives to makes each visit special and stress free. Moms from Pasadena, Friendswood, Deer Park, La Porte, League City and Houston Texas come to our amazing office. Kids Dentistry should be fun. With Dr. Nugent wearing silly hats and singing songs to your kids, don’t you think they will have a good time at our dental office?
Visit us at 3421 Burke Rd Ste A, Pasadena, Texas 77504.