Hey, my name is Shelly Katalgo. My love for sedation dentistry started in high school. My best friend had a severe fear of going to the dentist and I wanted to help her feel better about it. Although I always enjoyed my dental visits, I felt bad that she struggled so much with going to hers. My parents taught me about sedation dentistry and I instantly dreamed of becoming a dental professional. I wanted to help kids like my friend stay fear free throughout their appointments by using gentle techniques and professional medications. Although I opted to follow a different career path, my passion for dentistry remained throughout the years. I will update my site with developments in this industry as soon as they are reported. I will also discuss the benefits of sedation dentistry in detail. Thanks for visiting. I hope you come back soon.
Franklin Steward
If you are like most people, toothpaste is one of those things that you have hanging out in your bathroom at any given time because you rely on it to keep your teeth clean and your mouth fresh. Plus, if you have kids in the house, you probably give little thought to the tube of toothpaste on your bathroom counter being a dangerous thing. The fact is, toothpaste should always be kept out of the reach of little hands who have no idea that this often sweet-tasting substance could be a threat. As a parent, you may not even be fully aware of the dangers. Here is a closer look at the hidden dangers of toothpaste every parent must know.
Toothpaste has an obvious warning label on the back that often gets disregarded.
If you will take a look at most toothpastes from all of the well-known brands, you will discover that this product does indeed have a warning label. Most say that you should always supervise small children while they brush and ensure they do not use more than a pea-sized amount. You will even find a warning about not swallowing this seemingly simple and safe product. Even though most parents are aware that their children should not be left alone to brush and that swallowing the toothpaste is no good, many disregard the warning and don't pay proper attention while toothpaste is in use.
Toothpaste contains fluoride, which can be lethal.
Fluoride is one of the primary components in most modern toothpaste. While dentists may recommend fluoride as an important factor in dental care, this ingredient does have its downfalls. In large doses, fluoride can be fatal. In fact, fluoride poisoning can be fatal because it deteriorates the calcium levels in the blood at a rapid rate, and the component is highly corrosive in large quantities. Additionally, fluoride can be a skin and eye irritant if not used properly or inadvertently splattered onto a child's face and left there for long periods.
Toothpaste is filled with artificial colors and flavors.
The blue-tinted paste or cool striped red and green product that gets your child excited about brushing can also be a problem in large quantities if the toothpaste is ingested. These artificial colorings and even the artificial flavors, like those designed to provide the cool minty taste or a fruity bubblegum flavor, can trigger allergen reactions in children, who are already more prone to these types of allergies than most adults.
Of course your dentist wants you and your children to brush your teeth, but make sure you do so safely and that you supervise your young children while they do so. For more tips and information about toothpaste, talk to a dentist, such as one at Family 1st Dental, when you or one of your children go in for your next cleaning.