From what age can a child use adult toothpaste?

It's not always easy to see your little one grow up. Every day, the baby of yesterday becomes an increasingly independent child who, thanks to your guidance, advances on the path of autonomy and independence. In the bathroom too, this is apparent: little by little, he/she is abandoning certain products for adult versions. Now it's the turn of toothpaste to be questioned.

At what age should I use baby toothpaste, child toothpaste and adult toothpaste?

Tooth brushing should start with the first tooth. The argument that baby teeth don't require daily brushing should be thrown away. “Around the age of 3, the child has 20 milk teeth. Even if they are bound to fall, it is necessary to adopt good habits. Indeed, it has been proven that a child is three times more likely to have cavities on their permanent teeth, if they have already had any on their milk teeth,” warns the Digital Marketing Manager of Coslys - Nature & Strategy.

The parent therefore has an important role to play in the brushing ritual. Indeed, the latter must be established and carried out by one of the parents, the young child not being at the maximum of his motricity. The toothbrush used must then be flexible, and the toothpaste must be present only in minimal quantity. Following the recommendations of the College of Teachers in Pediatric Odontology (CEOP), the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD) recommends:

- a "trace of toothpaste 1000 ppm (i.e. 100 mg per 100 g) in the width of the toothbrush" for children aged between 6 months and 3 years with a low risk of caries. When the risk of caries is high, then the amount of toothpaste is increased to a "pea of ​​toothpaste 1000 ppm". - a pea of ​​toothpaste 1000 ppm from 3 to 6 years old, as part of twice-daily brushing, in order to preserve the baby teeth whose risk of caries is low. For high risks, the quantity then increases to 1450 ppm. - a classic dose of a toothpaste 1000-1450 ppm from 6 years old and in adulthood, for profiles with a low caries risk. For others, up to 10 years the toothpaste must contain a maximum of 1450 ppm of fluoride, from 10 to 16 years maximum 2500 ppm and beyond 16 years maximum 5000 ppm.

From the age of 6, the use of a 1450 ppm toothpaste is the rule. Parents must carry out/supervise this brushing until the age of 8 years. In case of high caries risk, a toothpaste with a high fluoride content may be recommended from the age of 10.

What is a dental caries risk?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is only one high caries risk factor: a carious lesion. But for Jona Andersen, pedodontist, the reality is quite different. She believes that it is also necessary to take into account: - a lack of brushing, - a hereditary factor (when parents at risk have caries), - certain situations of disability - a problem of mineralization of the teeth.

Hence the importance of the evaluation of the individual caries risk during a consultation, which makes it possible to determine whether the profile is at low or high risk. To do this, a history must be taken. This consists of retracing the medical history of the little patient, his habits in terms of hygiene but also those of the parents and their oral profiles. “It's not enough to just inspect the mouth. The family context also plays a role. For example, if the child is afraid to go to the dentist or if this is the case of the parent, this presents a risk because the latter may not take their child to the consultation enough. A triangular relationship between parent, child and practitioner then comes into play”, specifies our specialist.

Adult toothpaste vs child toothpaste: what major differences?

Although it is not mandatory in toothpastes, fluoride is governed by official regulations. In accordance with the recommendations of the USBD, all toothpastes, children and adults, should contain it, the dose varying according to the target age. However, the guidelines given by the organization do not constitute an obligation for manufacturers, many of them choose to do without them in their formulas. A point that seems to irritate Dr. Jona Andersen: “We must fight the misconceptions that fluoride is dangerous. On the contrary, it is beneficial for children and helps to have healthy teeth when present in an amount adapted to the age of the child. »

She thus joins the UBFSBD, which recalls in a press release published in March 2020, that "the fluoride dosage of your toothpaste must vary according to age, in order to have the best protection against cavities but also to avoid any risk of overdose that can cause fluorosis (which mainly results in stains on the teeth) during childhood on future permanent teeth".

Among the brands that have chosen not to put fluoride in their children's references, we find a well-known organic player: Coslys. “Other components that are just as effective against the appearance of cavities replace fluoride. Indeed, at a young age, a child who tends not to always know how to spit, and therefore tends to swallow, made us make this choice in the composition of our children's toothpaste", explains Céline Herbaux, Digital Marketing Manager. of the brand. It specifies that the components in question are, in the children's toothpaste to be used from the age of 3, silica which "promotes the elimination of dental plaque" and, in the toothpaste to be used from the age of 7, xylitol and erythritol, two natural assets.

In addition to fluoride, our pedodontist would like to take stock of the potential presence of SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). “SLS is a detergent. It is he who makes it possible to obtain a foam present in household products and soaps. It has nothing to do with toothpaste! Naturally, we have a kind of protective layer on the teeth, but the SLS strips them and makes them more fragile. So take a look at the label of your toothpaste before buying.

How long should brushing your teeth last?

Just like the amount of toothpaste, brushing time plays a role in oral hygiene. In children, count about a minute of brushing until the appearance of all of his milk teeth. Once the 20 quenottes are present, it is necessary to increase to two minutes twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, at least.