When it comes to toothpaste, many Americans, especially children use too much toothpaste when brushing their teeth. In truth, a little dab will do you just fine. A small pea-sized dab of toothpaste is the recommended amount by most dental professionals. If you like to spread your toothpaste rather than adding a dab, try squeezing a very thin layer of paste across the toothbrush bristles.
It is important for parents to monitor the amount of toothpaste their children use, many kids put excessive amounts of toothpaste on their toothbrush. Often times when kids have too much toothpaste on their toothbrush they end up with too much in their mouth leading to difficulty spitting it out. Toothpaste is frequently swallowed by small children causing kids to ingest too much fluoride.
There is a condition called fluorosis where teeth become chalky white or yellow and brittle which is caused from ingesting too much fluoride. The tooth discoloration from fluorosis is permanent. There are no other known problems associated with fluorosis.
In addition to toothpaste, other products like mouth wash/rinses, drinking water and fluoride supplements are ways in which people get substantial amounts of fluoride. Dentists can monitor and check for fluoride problems at regularly scheduled dental checkups. In many cases, children today do not receive enough fluoride, so your dentist may recommend a topical fluoride treatment once or twice a year.
It is important to use small amounts of fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily to maintain proper oral hygiene and dental care. When it comes to toothpaste, a little goes a long way.