HI My 3 year old daughter brushes her teeth pretty well but we are still using the non-fluoride toothpaste because she does not know how to rinse and spit. Just wondering at what age children learn to do this? Any advise on teaching her how to spit? Sounds funny asking this. Thanks
Thank you to the moms for their advice. I feel better knowing that it is ok to still be using the non-fluoride toothpaste. We have not been to the dentist yet but hopefully will go soon. I showed my daughter how to spit today (again) and she was able to do it a little bit. So now we will just keep practicing. Elizabeth, what toothpaste do you use if you did use fluoride toothpaste - just wondering. Thanks again
My 3 year old also still uses the non-flouride toothpaste so I did ask when she saw the dentist. He said maybe around age 5 she can switch when we are sure she isn't swallowing any. I was surprised but yet relieved. Has she seen her dentist yet?
My daughter is 4 1/2 and her pediatric dentist has us still using the non-fluoride toothpaste everyday except 2 days (Sunday & Wed) he has her brush w/ a pea size amount of full fluoride toothpaste. He said once she can spit better that he'll increase the use of fluoride paste to 3 days. He also said most kids can't fully spit until about 6 or 7. Thankfully my daughter lets me fully brush her teeth everyday so they're getting a good cleaning. She does brush her teeth but it's all of 20 seconds total so that's why I still brush them. She LOVES going to the dentist twice a year!
my 6yr old had trouble with the same thing..we started with just plain water in the cup and had her put some in her mouth and then showed her how to shake her head around to mix it up and spit it out..we did it with her..when we thought she was close on doing it right we put a little table salt in the water so she would not like the taste if she swallowed it..once we knew she was ok with that we changed the tooth paste and have been fine since..we started this once she turned 3 also..the dentist said it was time to do it and gave some of the ideas...hope it works for you...you may have to try a few times to get it right..
We switched to the fluoride when my son turned 4 -but we practiced intensively for weeks to get ready for the "big day". I still make him lean forward a lot over the sink while brushing. That way he's less likely to swallow the paste by mistake -it tends to drip down onto the sink instead. Otherwise he forgets sometimes and swallows the first mouthful (because it tastes toooo good)
We actually started practicing with sips of water only at first. Wen he had that pat down, we tried holding the non-fluoride in the mouth for a few seconds before spitting it out. It's just a matter of practicing, but at three, your daughter might be still a bit too young.Don't rush it unless she's ready for it.
Hi, well we stay away from fluoride toothpaste altogether. Fluoride is actually a toxic substance which leads to many health problems. Please visit www.fluoridealert.org for more information.
Play follow the leader with her. Brush your teeth the same time she does, ask her to follow what you do...
Show her how you rince and spit. Make sure she can comfortable and safely reach the hight of the sink..or bowl making it easier for her to spit out into. When she finally gets good at it then you can deal with changing her tooth paste.
