The dentist explained what to look for in the first place when choosing.
It is impossible to imagine a morning without toothpaste. But if we choose it for ourselves, focusing on our own comfort, on advertising and declared properties, then with children’s pasta everything is more complicated. After all, babies’ teeth require a special move. The dentist told Wday.ru how to approach the choice correctly Tatiana Politova.
Texture
It should be soft, without aggressive abrasive particles (materials with high hardness), so as not to damage the baby’s sensitive enamel. The most common abrasives are soda (sodium bicarbonate) and chalk (calcium carbonate). Gentle abrasives that are acceptable in the paste are silicon dioxide or titanium dioxide. Their RDA should not exceed 20 conventional units.
Composition
The paste must be based on calcium and fluoride (aminofluoride or olafluor), which will strengthen the enamel and protect against caries. But one must understand that fluorine is highly toxic. Since small children often swallow the paste, it can cause hypothyroidism and other diseases. For kids, its concentration should not exceed 500 ppm (pro-ppm), for schoolchildren – 1000 ppm. A paste with lysozyme (an enzyme capable of breaking down the walls of bacteria) and casein (a protein that helps strengthen the walls of the teeth).
Antibacterial substances
These include chlorhexidine, triclosan, metronidazole… These are very risky substances that kill both harmful bacteria and beneficial ones. If a child is diagnosed with stomatitis or periodontitis, it is better to buy a paste without these components.
Foaming agents
They are needed in the paste so that it is evenly distributed over the teeth and facilitates easy cleaning. However, not all chemical compounds can have a positive effect on the baby’s oral cavity. For example, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, E 487), which can cause allergies. Its safe counterpart is sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), which has minimal irritation.
Flavor fillers
Without flavors, namely sweet ones, it will be difficult to lure a child to brush his teeth. Therefore, manufacturers have come up with various fruit flavors and colors. It is advisable to use a paste with sweetener saccharin and synthetic colors as little as possible.
Preservatives
Despite the fact that preservatives are dangerous to human health, they are still added everywhere to increase the shelf life. The most dangerous components – sodium benzoate, propylene glycol (PEG or PEG), propylparaben… An excess of them in the body can lead to the development of tumors.