The choice of toothpaste and its fluoride content (ppm: parts per million) for children must be carefully adjusted according to age to both prevent cavities and reduce the risk of fluorosis (enamel staining due to excessive fluoride intake). According to the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD) guidelines, from the eruption of the first tooth to the age of 2, only a “grain of rice” amount of 1000 ppm fluoride toothpaste should be used. For children aged 2-6, a “pea” size of 1000 ppm fluoride toothpaste should be applied to the brush. After the age of 6, since children can now fully control their swallowing reflex, they can switch to 1450 ppm fluoride toothpaste, which is at the adult level. The amount of toothpaste is crucial; if it doesn’t exceed rice or pea sizes, even if swallowed, it won’t cause systemic harm.
