title: Factors affecting dentifrice use and ingestion among a sample of U.S. preschoolers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to assess the actual amount of dentifrice used and ingested and factors associated with use/ingestion among 28 U.S. preschoolers aged 40 to 48 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using their regular dentifrice brands/flavors and small child-sized toothbrushes (Oral -B 5), the participants or their parents placed dentifrice on toothbrushes three times to assess the quantity used and its consistency. Their brushing behaviors were observed and the amounts of dentifrice ingested were indirectly measured. Afterward, the parents and children placed a "pea-sized" amount of dentifrice on their toothbrushes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants were generally consistent in quantity applied, averaging 0.256 g (range 0.035 g-0.620 g; standard deviation 0.177 g) of dentifrice per brushing. Children, either alone or with parental assistance, placed more dentifrice than either mother or father alone (P = 0.007). The estimated mean ingested fluoride was 0.17 mg F per brushing, an average of 62% of the amount of dentifrice used (range up to 98%). Amount of ingested fluoride was positively associated (P < 0.05) with the amount of dentifrice used, and negatively associated with parental assistance in brushing. When asked to apply a pea-sized quantity, the mean quantity applied was 0.314 g (range 0.064 g-0.521 g).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study further supports the use of small amounts of dentifrice in young children, because they ingest substantial proportions of dentifrice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, USA. steven-levy@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McGrady
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhuridej
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Heilman
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wefel
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003679:Deglutition; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D012494:Sampling Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices