Look Who it Was Random video

Tots & Toothpaste

760 views · Published 27 October 2014 · 1:49 · Indexed 18 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2014 · Science & Technology

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When Wynn DePasquale shopped for toothpaste, she looked for something her kids could stomach.

“We looked for the pediatrician’s label; you know the seal on the back of it. And then really it just came down to flavor.  What they wanted and what they would like. My son doesn’t like anything mint and she does.”

Now there is a new twist on tots and toothpaste that might put a smile on parents faces. The American Academy of Pediatrics is reversing course and recommending fluoride toothpaste.

“So before we would tell people not to use fluoride toothpaste before the age of two. Because children aren’t very good at spitting the toothpaste out and we were worried they may be getting too much fluoride in their systems,” explains Lee Memorial Health System family medicine physician Dr. Christina Cavanagh.

The numbers tell the story: studies found 25% of kids had a cavity before kindergarten. And there was a dramatic uptick in those with multiple cavities. Fluoride toothpaste has proven benefits in preventing decay.

The flip on fluoride drops the age of usage from six years old to babies. When their first teeth come in.

“You really only want to use a grain-sized amount of fluorinated toothpaste for babies,” Dr. Cavanagh says. “After two, a pea-sized amount is most appropriate.”

It’s important to teach young children not to swallow the toothpaste. Overexposure can cause teeth staining. A slim concern compared to a lifetime of dental problems.

“You can really harbor a large amount of bacteria in your mouth and that can affect your overall health.”

DePasquale, for one, is glad health experts are brushing up on their recommendations.

“I always knew that fluoride or some fluoride was good. But it’s nice to know that they’re always checking in and always making corrections,” says DePasquale.


View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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