Fluoride Safety

Although the FDA requires fluoride toothpaste to carry a warning label urging parents to contact a poison control center if their child accidentally consumes a large quantity of toothpaste, the ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs takes the position that the FDA warning overstates the risks of ingested fluoride to children. According to the ADA statement, children cannot swallow enough fluoride from toothpaste during normal brushing to cause any serious problems. However, to be on the safe side, limit children under age 5 to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and supervise their brushing since most young children haven’t learned to rinse and instead swallow at the end of brushing.