MONDAY, Aug. 25, 2014 (ASKDENT | News) -- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has come out with new recommendations to improve the children oral health against the dental cavities. Dr. Melinda Clark, along with colleagues at the AAP's Section on Oral Health, published the new recommendations online Aug. 25 in the journal Pediatrics.
According to the new recommendations, All children should start using toothpaste with fluoride when their teeth appear, regardless of their risk level for cavities.
Children up until age 3 should use a smear (the size of a grain of rice) of toothpaste. After age of 3, pea-sized amount is recommended. Parents should always help your children to put on toothpaste on their toothbrushes and guide or help them with brushing.
By the time of first teeth appear, You should bring your children to the dentist for first dental appointment. Fluoride varnish should be applied by the dentist during the first appointment, and follow by every 3 to 6 months, according to American Academy of Pediatrics,
DO not use Over-the-counter fluoride rinses (those selling in the market or pharmacy) for your children younger than 6 years, due to the risk that they may swallow more than the recommended/ safe levels of fluoride.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in American children, and fluoride is effective in preventing cavities in children, the AAP said.
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