Young children and fluoride toothpaste

Studies have shown a higher prevalence of enamel mottling in children who live in fluoridated areas than in those from low fluoride areas. It is possible that the additive effect of fluoride ingestion from water and toothpaste may be responsible since it is known that young children may swallow up to half of the toothpaste on the brush. Parents must supervise toothbrushing for young children, low fluoride paste should be used, and the brush merely smeared with paste. The commonly recommended pea-sized quantity may be too much.