Teeth brushing

[gedk]

Following on slightly from Hollie's question below regarding teeth brushing. My one year old son allows me to brush his teeth no problem but then swallows all the toothpastey water. It is special childrens toothpaste. Will it upset his stomach? I have only just started brushing his teeth (he only has a couple) a few days ago. Thanks.

[Lindylou]

The only problem that could occur is if the toothpaste has fluoride and if your tapwater has added fluoride.  Too much fluoride can cause 'mottling' of the teeth and they are either made crumbly or absolutely rock solid.  My son used to swallow the toothpasty water and our dentist reckons he nearly broke his drill the one and only time he needed a very small filling in his milk tooth.  Now there's not a filling in his head but his teeth are still a bit mottled. 

[nfn]

As only the tiniest amount of toothpaste is used then I'm not convinced swallowing it is a major problem.  My son swallowed his toothpaste until he was about 3 and his teeth have always been absolutely fine.  He's 5 now and has an excellent set of gnashers!

[louadams6]

In a book my health visitor gave me it says for babies just use a smear of toothpaste and for children just a pea size amount. All it says after that is an excessive amount of flouride intake is undesirable so as long as you only use the "smear" of toothpaste that they state im sure that youre son will be fine. My daughter is nearly 3 and although she tries to copy me (and very rarely lets me clean them properly) she has a love of sucking the toothbrush and swallowing the toothpaste and water and her teeth are absolutely fine. If you are unduly worried i would speak to your dentist

[roguepink]

i used to swallow the toothpaste, and my teeth turned out to be not one uniform colour, just with flecks in. I went ot the dentist to have him clean them, and he said there was nothing he could do, because my teeth were naturally like that, probably too much toothpaste swallowing.

As long as yuor son, stops swallowing as soon as he understands, he should be ok, cos i used to swallow for ages.

[Le Chat]

Swallowing toothpaste may result in 'over white' patches, especially on the front teeth, which can look rather odd, so I would buy a non-flouride toothpaste from your health shop. There is already flouride in our water, so it is not needed in toothpaste. It is the flouride that can cause this whiteness on teeth.

Another point of toothy concern - if your child needs fillings, don't let them end up with a mouthful of poisonous mercury amalgam - opt for the white fillings. I have them in my mouth now and they are perfectly adequate for all chewing needs!