|
Kids Health: Are Whitening Toothpastes Safe for Children?
What is Whitening Toothpaste?
Toothpastes are used for a wide variety of purposes from tartar control to sensitive teeth to plain old fighting cavities. The latest innovation to hit the market is whitening toothpastes. They have proved to be immensely popular among adults who want a whiter brighter smile, but if you have a family with children, you may be wondering if they are safe for children to use as well.
How Do They Work?
The color of your teeth is genetically determined and varies by individual. Tooth color can range from white to yellow to gray. As we age, our teeth tend to become yellowish in color due to habits such as smoking, and drinking coffee, tea, or red wine, all of which stain teeth. Whitening toothpastes can help remove these types of organic stains.
Whitening toothpastes do not actually whiten teeth, but use a mild abrasive typically in the form of a silica compound or baking soda, to help remove surface stains. In addition, some whitening toothpastes also contain special agents to polish teeth and help to remove stains.
Although some whitening toothpastes do contain a mild form of peroxide, typically calcium peroxide, it is not strong enough to actually bleach teeth and make them whiter. Using whitening toothpaste may cause your teeth to become one shade lighter, but typically there is no change in color. Whitening toothpastes are fine for maintaining the status quo and are an excellent choice after you’ve had your teeth professionally bleached by a dentist.
Are They Safe for Children?
Several whitening toothpastes containing peroxide have been given the American Dental Association Seal of Approval and are deemed safe for use in adults and children over the age of two years old. Whitening toothpastes should not be used in children under the age of two years old.
Possible side effects may include irritated gums from abrasive ingredients or slight sensitivity in teeth from the peroxide, which should go away after discontinuing use of the whitening toothpaste. The pH of most whitening toothpastes is close to neutral and the exposure to whitening and abrasive agents during brushing is not enough to damage tooth enamel.
In addition to removing stains, whitening toothpastes contain anti-microbial compounds that are effective in removing plaque caused by bacteria. In turn, this reduces that amount of tartar buildup on the teeth, which can cause discoloration later in life.
Whitening toothpastes are used the same way and for the same reasons (fluoride protection against cavities, plaque removal, and tartar control) as any other type of toothpaste. Children under the age of six years old should use an amount of toothpaste equivalent to a tiny pea when brushing their teeth and be supervised by an adult. Whitening toothpastes are safe to use every day.
Whitening toothpastes will not have any effect on teeth that are discolored due to the use of antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline in children under the age of 8 years old, other medications or illness, trauma to a tooth, or excessive amounts of fluoride either in drinking water or certain ingredients in mouthwash.
| 
