When should I use Fluoride toothpaste with my kids?

A popular question from my patients is when should I start using fluoride based toothpaste on my children’s teeth. I highly recommend using fluoride toothpaste at age 2, but only if the child can spit out the toothpaste. Children are more prone to the ill effects of fluoride compared to adults. This is why correct brushing trumps an age cutoff when it comes to the use of fluoride. Once the child starts using anticavity toothpaste, the amount of protection that the fluoride provides is astonishing.