American Dental Association Advises Fluoride Toothpaste As Soon As First Tooth Comes In

The toothbrush on the left shows a smear of toothpaste
 and the one on the right a pea-sized amount.

The American Dental Association is recommending that parents have their children brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as their first tooth comes in, CBS News reported.

Previously, the organization recommended fluoride toothpaste for children 2 to 6 years old.

The new guidance says kids younger than 3 should just get a “smear” of toothpaste before graduating to a pea-sized amount when 3 to 6 years old to prevent cavities and avoid fluorosis. Kids should spit out the toothpaste as soon as they are old enough to do so.

"For half a century, the ADA has recommended that patients use fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities, and a review of scientific research shows that this holds true for all ages," Dr. Edmond Truelove, chairman of the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs, said in an association news release.

The recommendation changes comes after a recent review published in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that brushing with "fluoride toothpaste had statistically significant benefits on preventing decay and cavities," CBS News reported.

"Approximately 25 percent of children have or had cavities before entering kindergarten, so it's important to provide guidance to caregivers on the appropriate use of fluoride toothpaste to help prevent their children from developing cavities," Truelove reported.

The updated guidelines are meant to help prevent cavities in children while limiting their risk of fluorosis, which is a mild discoloration of the teeth.

More than 16 million kids in the United States are suffering with tooth decay, according to the statistical figures revealed by the ADA. They also found a significant increase in number of visits by pre-school children with multiple cavities to dentists.