What happens if child swallowed toothpaste

The treatment of choice when your child has eaten a small to moderate amount of fluoridated toothpaste is to give your child a milk-based snack, i. The calcium in the milk binds the fluoride to make an inert salt CaF 2 that is excreted from the body.

In rare cases, a child can ingest a larger amount of fluoride than is safe to treat with milk or yogurt. Usually, when this occurs, a young child is involved. It does not take much toothpaste to cause a problem in a very small child. For this reason, it is extremely important to keep toothpaste out of reach of small children and behind childproofed drawers or cabinets. The symptoms that follow are nausea and vomiting that progresses to seizures and muscle spasms.

Over time, excessive fluoride consumption by young children can result in a cosmetic condition known as dental fluorosis. However, this condition is rare and is unlikely to occur with proper brushing habits. Chronic consumption of excessive fluoride can also lower the amount of calcium and magnesium in the body.

These are important minerals for healthy body functioning. If your child swallows toothpaste, call Poison Control at for treatment advice. They will tell you exactly what you should do! For isolated cases, swallowing toothpaste usually only causes mild gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. A 2-ounce tube of prescription ControlRX, at 5, ppm contains milligrams of fluoride, a nearly-lethal dose for a 2-year old [source: NIH ].

Parents should take extra care to lock up these types of prescription dental products, as well as any fluoride supplements, which can easily contain enough fluoride to kill a child. Even doses as low as 0. A pound child can suffer from fluoride poisoning at doses as low as 1 milligram, while a pound child would need to ingest 2 milligrams to experience similar symptoms. A single teaspoon of children's toothpaste contains about 5 milligrams of fluoride, making it more important than ever for parents to limit access to this product [source: Fluoride Action Network ].

The National Institutes of Health NIH encourages parents to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at any time they have a question about poisoning, whether or not it's an emergency situation. NIH also recommends that parents head to the emergency room if they suspect their child has consumed a tube of toothpaste or more [source: NIH ]. While it's possible for a child to consume a lethal dose of toothpaste, it's also exceptionally rare.

Between and , Poison Control received more than 10, reports of potential fluoride overdose from toothpaste. Just two of these were life-threatening cases, and neither resulted in death [source: Fluoride Action Network ].

Even if you monitor your kids every time they brush, you may be surprised just how much fluoride they consume from other sources each day. According to the USDA , fruit juices, meat products, tea and even McDonald's french fries contain surprisingly high levels of fluoride. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.

Oral Care. Oral Care for Kids. What if a Child Eats Fluoride Toothpaste? While fluoride poisoning from toothpaste is unlikely, parents should still monitor their children's toothpaste use. Fluoride Poisoning and Lethal Levels With scary new labels on toothpaste , many parents are left wondering what to do when they catch their child eating toothpaste straight from the tube, but given the relatively low fluoride content in most brands, it's fairly difficult for a child to consume a lethal dose of fluoride at home.

Surprising Sources of Fluoride. Toothpaste is supposed to be spat out instead of swallowed because it contains fluoride, which helps strengthen tooth enamel, prevent cavities and build strong, healthy teeth. It's not edible or good for the body if consumed. Why do I want to eat toothpaste? You may be suffering from a disorder called pica where a person wants to and often does eat things that aren't actually food and have no nutritional value.