As you know, toothpaste is an important item people use daily for dental health. However, although you’ve been brushing your teeth for years, you might want to know the answer to the question: how much toothpaste should you put on your toothbrush? Read on for more information.
The risks of using too much or too little toothpaste
Did you pay attention to how much toothpaste you put on your toothbrush every day? A new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that most people, especially children, used too much toothpaste.
So, what will happen if you use too much toothpaste? According to dentists, most toothpaste contains fluoride, which helps strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. However, fluoride in high concentration can mix with other minerals in our teeth, which can cause discoloration and, in worse cases, affect the quality of the surface. One dentist explained that changes in the mineral content of teeth can make the surface of teeth not as smooth. It is much easier to scrub and clean a smooth surface compared to a very rough and worn surface.
If young children consume too much fluoride while their adult teeth are still forming, they can develop what is known as dental fluorosis. People with dental fluorosis are more likely to have teeth that are vulnerable to decay and breakdown.
It’s important to note that using too little toothpaste can be just as bad as using too much toothpaste because your teeth won’t get the full protection of fluoride. Using too little toothpaste can result in the insufficiency of surfactant which can create bubbles to help clean teeth and the scarcity of fluoride which can be of great importance to protect teeth.
How much toothpaste to use for adults
As an adult, the amount of toothpaste you should put on your toothbrush depends on several factors, including the type of toothpaste you use and your personal preferences.
Suppose you cover the toothbrush bristles with a ribbon of toothpaste. In that case, you’re not alone, as many people like you are influenced by company advertising and tend to think it necessary to cover the entire brush surface. However, most dentists recommend that you, an adult, use pea-sized toothpaste every time you brush your teeth.
Even so, it is a fact that everyone has personal preferences for moisture, foam, and taste. If you prefer the taste and feel of toothpaste while brushing your teeth, go for it and no one will condemn you for that. Some people also find that using more toothpaste helps them brush their teeth longer, which will help users to follow the instruction for brushing their teeth for about two minutes.
Adults don’t need to worry about using too much toothpaste. Since adults’ teeth are no longer developing, they are not affected by high levels of fluoride. In addition, adults are less likely to swallow toothpaste which put the physical system at risk. Using more toothpaste every time you brush your teeth means nothing but waste.
How much toothpaste to use for children
In a four-year study, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that children aged one to six years old in more than 80 percent of families use too much toothpaste: most parents apply toothpaste to all of the bristles on their child’s toothbrush, and some to half.
Children of three years old and younger should use less toothpaste, and preferably not toothpaste with too much fluoride. Young children are prone to swallowing toothpaste in unexpected ways. If children use toothpaste with too much fluoride, their enamel may be damaged, leaving the teeth susceptible to bacteria and the like. If children swallow the toothpaste, they may catch tummy upsets or even get fluorosis.
Control your children
The amount of toothpaste a child should use varies with age. The Australian Dental Association says toothpaste should not be used until children are at least 18 months old. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAP), the American College of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the ADA all recommend choosing a salty toothpaste for children when their teeth appear and applying a smear of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) to their toothbrush until they are three years old. This aims to make sure they don’t accidentally swallow too much toothpaste with fluoride that they shouldn’t ingest. After that, children can gradually start using more toothpaste. Children over five years old can use half the recommended amount for adults when brushing their teeth. When children grow up to more than seven years old, they can use standard pea-sized toothpaste.
In general, in terms of the amount of toothpaste, adults should use at least a pea-sized portion, and children of three years old and younger should use about the size of a grain of rice. If you have any questions about toothpaste or toothbrush, please never hesitate to contact us. We are at your service!