Does training toothpaste really do anything?

[Anonymous]

DC is 3 (Jan bday) and uses the oragel training toothpaste bc he still hasn't learned to spit the regular stuff. I feel like his teeth aren't getting very clean even though we brush 3 times per day (1 time is at school), does the training stuff work?? If not, other suggestIons?

[Anonymous]

We just switched to spitting/fluoride toothpaste at 4.5 (2 days ago) when my daughter finally learned to spit. Her 1/2 birthday was her target date after her last dentist appt.

She's been to the dentist every 6 months since right before 3rd birthday. Dentist says her teeth are great. She drinks a lot of water with fluroide. She's not great at letting us brush her teeth for long. Just thought I'd share so you don't worry unless dentist tells you to worry.

[Anonymous]

I agree it is too soon for you to worry, but have you been to a dentist?

Our 5.5 yo still hasn't learned to spit (some motor issues make it hard for him) and is still using training toothpaste. Dentist says his teeth look great, we've been every 6 months since age 3.

I think the training stuff has some abrasive in it that does a little something.

If anyone has good strategies for teaching spitting to a kid who has trouble dissociating parts of his mouth please speak up!

[Anonymous]

OP here, good to know that it's early to worry. We did go to the dentist right at his 3rd bday and the dentist said they looked great, but I swear they are starting to look a little off-color to me (maybe my imagination) so was curious if the training paste was actually working.

As for spitting, the only progress we've made is to start with learning to spit water. So we have him take a sip and then say "ok, now spit it out" just so he practices the motion. I'd say he gets it 50% of the time, but for some reason when we do it during brushing and with paste, he always swallows first.

I was also curious how bad the regular kids paste really is if swallowed in tiny amounts. Anyone know?

[Anonymous]

we use training toothpaste with xylitol as recommended by our dentist. its recommended in the EU now for babies too young for flouride. its been proven to protect against cavaties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we use training toothpaste with xylitol as recommended by our dentist. its recommended in the EU now for babies too young for flouride. its been proven to protect against cavaties.

Is this the Oragel stuff or something different? Do you have a brand name?

[Anonymous]

My DD is approaching 3.5 and we visited the dentist for the first time this month. Our dentist told us it was OK to use a "smear" of the fluoride toothpaste. It didn't concern him if my DD swallowed some given how little we use.

[Anonymous]

Xylitol is supposed to be very effective at fighting cavities; it's in some Tom's fluoride-free toothpastes. As for cleaning the teeth, just the act of brushing is very important. In fact, I read a study several years ago that found that brushing with a wet toothbrush, without toothpaste at all, was actually more effective at removing plaque (though of course doesn't give any fluoride benefits).

[Anonymous]

Both my kids are now using floride toothpaste (3 and 6). However, the dentist told me that just the action of brushing, even with just WATER, was enough to clean a toddlers teeth. She said there was no ned to even use the training toothpaste if we didn't want to. We did use it for both kids but they started out swallowing it b/c of the flavor. For my DD we also used xyletol wipes for teeth from Whole Foods (also recommended by the dentist b/c DD got all her teeth minus her molars by 12 months old).

[Anonymous]

Our DD is 2.5 and we found that the training gel did nothing for her, either. I kept seeing a film on her teeth, especially in front/uppers. So, we use the regular kid fluoride toothpaste with her a few times per week, even though she does swallow it. I use a teeny tiny amount, barely a smidge. Just enough to froth up in her mouth. I've noticed a vast improvement. We also now got a kids Oral-B toothbrush with a moving/spinning head on it, which has made a big difference, too.

[Anonymous]

OP, has your son had a high fever? I believe that can result in tooth discoloration for little kids -- my brother had it happen. I don't know what threshold causes it, but you could probably ask your pediatrician's advice line or your dentist if it seems like a likely culprit.

[Anonymous]

Wow 13:29, he did just get over a bad strep where first antibiotic didn't woRk so he had high fevers for about a week. I'll be sure to ask the ped. And I think I will use the regular paste a few times a week!