While fluoride has proven to prevent cavities, some parents worry about “fluoride toxicity.” Should you worry about giving your toddler fluoride? Many first-time parents mistakenly believe that their kids' oral health doesn't matter until they're four or five years old. They think, "Since baby teeth are so newly erupted, they must be better protected and safe against tooth decay." This couldn't be farther from the truth. Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases. Studies show that 27.9% of all children ages two to five years old in the United States have at least one untreated cavity. Without proper dental hygiene, that number increases to more than half between the ages of six and eleven. However, proper oral hygiene habits can be tough to come by with toddlers whose baby teeth are still coming in. They have only just started brushing their smiles on their own, and their technique often requires you to give their teeth a second pass with the toothbrush. Many toddlers haven't learned how to spit their toothpaste into the sink without swallowing any. When your kid's brushing and flossing is possibly spotty at best, you'll have to focus just as much attention on building up their smile's natural defense: the enamel. When parents ask us, “How can I strengthen my child's teeth?” our number one tip is to give them fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that reinforces dental enamel during first-stage tooth decay. At this early point, plaque and bacteria have stolen the calcium and other vital minerals keeping the enamel strong against them. By remineralizing the tooth with fluoride, you can bolster these defenses and even reverse tooth decay. A pediatric dentist can apply a topical fluoride varnish to a toddler's baby teeth two to four times a year. At home, you can help your child with fluoridated water or toothpastes. While there are fluoride mouthwashes, children shouldn't use them until they are at least seven years old. However, as great as fluoride is, people have some concerns about using it, especially when kids are so young.

Is Fluoride Bad For You? Fluoride is perfectly safe for your child's smile as long as they use it in the recommended amounts with the right treatments. You can choose between several options to strengthen your child's teeth against decay. Child-safe remineralizing toothpaste and fluoride varnishes are great ways to apply fluoride to the enamel directly. And here in Long Beach, you can even find fluoride in water as the community water system is fully fluoridated. However, with as many choices as you have, it's important not to give your toddler too much. If your toddler swallows more than the recommended amount, they might get a stomach ache. You can help their upset tummy by giving them a glass of milk. The calcium will bind to the fluoride and relieve their discomfort. Regularly swallowing too much fluoride can potentially cause damage to the enamel or dental fluorosis. What Is Dental Fluorosis? Dental fluorosis is a condition where a child's tooth emerges from the gums with white streaks or lines on the outer enamel. Some parents might find this alarming, but the "damage" to the tooth is only aesthetic. Fluorosis typically leaves your toddler's dental health completely uncompromised. The complete opposite may be the case, and your child's baby teeth can be better protected against cavities and decay. Fluorosis is only possible with teeth that have only just erupted from the gums. Once your toddler's baby teeth come in, you don't have to worry that they'll become cosmetically streaked. This dental discoloration only appears when the teeth are still growing and taking in fluoride and other minerals to become strong. If you do notice white spots appearing later on, it isn't fluorosis. Instead, it may be a sign of developing tooth decay. For most people with fluorosis, their white enamel spots are often so minimal that only dentists can see them. According to the American Dental Association, less than 2% of all people aged 6 to 49 have anything more than mild fluorosis. However, if you're worried about your child developing fluorosis, the best things to do are to supervise their brushing routine and work closely with your child's dentist. What’s Best For Your Toddler If fluoride helps fight off cavities and decay, but too much can harm baby teeth, what should you do? The best way to keep your toddler's smile as healthy as possible is to strike the right balance. A great way to learn how to do this is to speak with a kids dentist. Pediatric dentists are specialized in managing and shaping children's developing and changing smiles. Based on your toddler's specific needs, we can work with you to plan an individualized plan to give them the right level of fluoridation. On our end, this will primarily mean scheduling frequent fluoride varnishing appointments. Some children may only need one or two a year, while others may be recommended as many as three or four. As for your side as the parent, you’ll have to watch over their dental routine and ensure they use the right amounts of toothpaste. Just how much is too much? Here are the amounts our family dentists at Long Beach Family Dentist recommend giving your child: Ages 0 to 2 For toddlers under three years old, you can begin using fluoride toothpaste from the moment their first baby teeth arrive. However, you shouldn't put more than a smear on their toothbrush. Since your child can't spit at this age, tilt their head to the side and let the toothpaste slip out on its own into the sink or washcloth. Ages 3 to 6 Once your child turns three years old, you can increase the amount of toothpaste to a pea-sized amount. At this age, most children can be trusted to spit out their toothpaste rather than swallow it. However, they still should not use mouthwash, fluoridated or not.

Are Baby Teeth More Prone To Cavities? Unfortunately, yes. Your toddler can develop dental decay and cavities much quicker than even older children with a full set of permanent teeth. As baby teeth are only temporary, their enamel isn’t as thick or hardy as adult ones’. Once plaque builds up, oral bacteria can quickly weaken the protective surface and burrow its way through to the vulnerable inner layers below. With this accelerated timeline, severe cavities can develop before parents can say the word "toothache." Without proper dental care, even children as young as two or three years old can get cavities so severe that the teeth are rotted through and need emergency extraction. What Does A Decayed Tooth Look Like? Without fluoride treatment or trips to your kid's dentist for twice-yearly dental cleanings, dental decay can turn into a terrible toothache and cavity in just a few months. Catching dental caries early on by recognizing the signs can save your toddler much trouble and tooth pain in the future. Early-stage tooth decay first appears as white enamel spots. Initially, these can look similar to fluorosis, but remember that decay only occurs on teeth that have already emerged. These white spots darken over time as plaque and bacteria wear away at the tooth's surface. Once a hole appears in your child’s enamel, other cavity symptoms may be much less visible. In addition to discoloration and deepening pit in the tooth, your toddler may complain about: Sensitivity to hot and cold foods Lingering sensitivity to sweets Pain when biting down or chewing Sudden toothaches, which can often come and go Chronic bad breath or unpleasant taste in the mouth Can You Stop A Cavity Once It Starts? Since cavities are physical pits in the tooth, you and your child can’t undo the damage on your own. While fluoride toothpaste and varnishes can reverse the white spots stage of dental decay, they can’t restore lost dental tissue. Once a cavity forms, a baby tooth can only be fixed with professional treatment. Most cavities require either a tooth filling or dental crown. These procedures involve removing the damaged and diseased parts of the tooth and filling in the hole left behind. Fillings are used on smaller and narrower cavities, while crowns can recreate the entire enamel surface, if necessary. However, if the cavity reaches the centermost dental pulp layer, your toddler’s baby tooth may need a root canal. In many cases, root canals are the only treatment that can save even a badly decayed tooth from needing extraction. Tooth removal is only ever a last resort, especially when it comes to baby teeth. This is why teaching healthy dental habits, not just brushing and flossing but diet and fluoride management, is so crucial. If you have any questions or concerns about keeping your toddler’s oral health on track, you can reach our dental office at (562) 999-3602. We’d love to schedule a consultation with one of our expert pediatric dentists.