Is children's toothpaste edible?
No, children's toothpaste is not edible...if it contains fluoride and it will make you or a child very sick. "Toddler" toothpaste does not contain fluoride - so check the container if you are not sure which type of toothpaste is being questioned.The U.S. poison control centers receive thousands of calls each year due to fluoride poisoning. Early symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and excessive saliva. In rare cases, cardiac failure can occur.Most tubes of children's fluoride toothpaste made in the USA contain enough fluoride to severely poison a child who weighs up to 62 lbs. if the whole tube is ingested. The smaller the child the less toothpaste is needed to be toxic.Excessive toothpaste use by children under the age of 8 can result in the development of fluorosis in the form of small white specks on the teeth or more severe discoloration and roughness. This damage is found on the child's permanent teeth.Prevention:Children's toothpaste should be placed on the brush in an amount roughly the size of a pea.Keep toothpaste and all medicine out of reach of small children.Always supervise children up to age 6 while they brush their teeth to make sure the toothpaste is being spit out.