To Swallow or Not Swallow Training Toothpaste?

Updated on April 30, 2008
N.H. asks from Murrieta, CA
5 answers

My son loves the taste of his training toothpaste and swallows it all before he could spit it out. Is this bad, if so, why? If the issue is floride, then why do we put it into our water and why do some give their kids floride tablets? My son drinks more water out of bottles than he does out of the tap so I don't believe he would get that much floride from the faucet and I don't give him floride tablets, so is swallowing the itty bitty amount of his toothbrush really that bad?

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So What Happened?

Thanks Andrea,
We started working on spitting out the toothpaste today. He always has had training toothpaste, so like I said I really didn't think it was a big deal, but I wanted to find out for sure.

More Answers

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M.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you taken him to the dentist yet? There's a really good pediatric dentist in Arcadia and he answered all of those questions for us. Our water has sufficient fluoride that we don't need to supplement it and it's ok if he drinks it. Contact your city for info about how much fluoride is in your water. As for toothpaste, he said that once children are two you can give them the regular toothpaste instead of training toothpaste (no fluoride), but only give them about the amount of 1/2 a pea. That way, if they swallow it, which he said is to be expected until they're about 4 years old, it's not a problem. Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

As a dental hygienist I can answer your question! The fluoride in toothpaste is meant to be placed "topically" on your teeth. It is not he same as the flouoride that is ingested in tap water. In small amounts it is not dangerous but it is not meant to be ingested. I would recommend using one of the "training" toothpastes that does not contain flouride until your child is ready to spit and not swallow. I did not use regular toothpaste until my son was 3.5 years old because he swalled it most of the time. I did however have him on a fluoride multi vitamin (RX) and drinking tap water which is fluoridated.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.C.

answers from Reno on

If you are in the Reno area, we don't have flouride in our tap water. California does but we don't because it's considered a poison here. As for training toothpaste, they typically don't have flouride and can be swallowed. Now if you gave him regular toothpaste it wouldn't be a good idea for him to swallow that because it has flouride at a higher concentrate than water with flouride. It would be a good idea to bring this up with your son's dentist.

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K.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just because it is on the market does not mean that it is safe! Each persons body is made to handle only so much. As he swallows the floride and other toxins in the toothpaste it will build up in his system. It can cause more health problems down the road. I would love to share with you the toxic free/floride free toothpaste that we use and other toxic free products. email me your number and a good time to call you. ____@____.com

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J.C.

answers from San Diego on

There is floride in our water for the same reason there is arsenic and lead and chlorine! The powers that be are not always the smartest creatures on the planet. I don't even cook with tap water anymore. It's not good. I use floride free toothpastes and it was when I swtiched from those that contained to those that don't that I STOPPED getting cavities! Go figure! General population toothpaste such as crest or colgate also contain other harmful chemicals that shouldn't be swallowed. Tom's has a brand that is good for children and lacks the junk that is in there. Or if you don't like that brand then check the local health food store.

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