What Happens if You Swallow Toothpaste?
Consuming a pea-sized amount of toothpaste usually doesn’t have any harmful effects. However, it can be dangerous for young children to consume a lot of toothpaste.
Toothpaste is safe for dental hygiene use as approved by the FDA due to its non-harmful fluoride content. It is important to avoid from purposely consuming or using excessive amounts of toothpaste.
Let’s explore the effects of long-term toothpaste consumption on health.
Fluoride Poisoning
Fluoride is a standard component in toothpaste that helps to reinforce teeth and prevent cavities. Yet, excessive intake of fluoride can be harmful, potentially leading to poisoning. Symptoms of fluoride poisoning may vary, so it’s important to be cautious when using toothpaste, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Seizures
- Tremors or uncontrollable shaking
- Experiencing a salty or soapy taste in the mouth.
- Weakness or fatigue
- Excessive salivation or drooling
- A slow or irregular heartbeat may result in cardiac arrest in serious cases.
- Shallow breathing
Dental Fluorosis
While dental fluorosis may have a negative connotation, it is important to note that it is not a harmful condition and does not pose any risk to the overall health of your teeth. Dental fluorosis is usually identified by light white spots on tooth enamel that often happen due to too much fluoride exposure during childhood.
It is important to note that dental fluorosis only affects teeth that have not yet erupted through the gums. Once teeth have broken through the gums, fluorosis cannot develop. Given that children under 8 years old are more prone to swallowing toothpaste, it is important to supervise their brushing to prevent any swallowing and reduce the risk of fluorosis.
Skeletal Fluorosis
In addition to the harm fluoride can cause to your enamel, excessive fluoride consumption can also result in skeletal fluorosis, a painful bone disease that can cause damage to your bones and joints.
Skeletal fluorosis results in the hardening and decreased flexibility of your bones, potentially increasing the likelihood of fractured bones. The over-accumulation of bone tissue due to skeletal fluorosis can affect the mobility of your joints.
Thyroid Imbalance
Excessive fluoride exposure can result in harm to the parathyroid gland, potentially causing hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough vital hormones. Common symptoms of this condition include fatigue and hair loss.
Hypothyroidism may result in bone issues from lacking calcium, possibly causing bone weakening and raising the chance of fractures.
Neurological Issues
Children who are exposed to higher levels of fluoride before birth may show cognitive difficulties in their early years. Moreover, early exposure to higher levels of fluoride has been linked to lower scores on intelligence tests.
Below are a few more points for you to consider:
- Kids have a higher chance of experiencing fluoride poisoning compared to adults due to their smaller bodies and increased absorption of fluoride.
- If a large amount of toothpaste is swallowed, contact Poison Control immediately for help.
Prevention Tips
Store toothpaste in a location that’s out of reach and out of sight from kids.
Observe kids as they practice brushing their teeth independently, making sure to remind them about the importance of not swallowing the toothpaste.
For children under 3 years old, use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste when their first tooth comes out, like a smear or the size of a grain of rice.
When brushing the teeth of children aged 3 to 6, apply a small amount of toothpaste equivalent to the size of a pea.
Ways to avoid accidentally swallowing toothpaste:
- For children, just a pea-sized dab of toothpaste.
- Watch over kids as they clean their teeth.
- Keep toothpaste away from children’s reach at all times.
- Choose for a fluoride-free toothpaste to avoid any worries about fluoride poisoning.
To ensure your family’s safety, follow these helpful tips to avoid accidental toothpaste ingestion.
How Do I Stop Swallowing Toothpaste?
To prevent swallowing toothpaste, simply spit it out and rinse your mouth with water while brushing. For those worried about swallowing toothpaste, you might want to try fluoride-free options, especially for kids. Showing kids how to spit while brushing can help them learn since they tend to copy what you do.