title: Parents' interpretation of instructions to control the dose of fluoridated toothpaste used with young children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the average amounts of fluoridated toothpaste applied by parents to a child's toothbrush in response to instructions to limit the quantity to a "pea-sized" or "smear" amount.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty parents of 12- to 71-month-old children participated in this study. They were presented with three toothbrushes and asked to apply the amount of toothpaste they use typically with their child-a smear or a pea-sized quantity. The results were compared to the recommended weights of 0.25 g (pea-sized) and 0.125 g (smear).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean amount applied in response to a "smear" weighed 0.21 ± 0.19 g, which differed from the recommended weight of 0.125 g (P=.002). The mean amount applied in response to a "pea" weighed 0.30 ± 0.21 g, which was greater than but not statistically significantly different from the recommended weight of 0.25 g (P=.10). Parents applied, on average, 0.33 ± 0.24 g of toothpaste when instructed to apply the amount they typically use with their child.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most parents use more fluoridated toothpaste than is recommended for young children and verbal instructions to limit the dose are ineffective. Education by demonstrating a smear and pea-sized amounts of fluoridated toothpaste is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., USA. colleenh@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Colleen E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Huebner
authors.forename: Ameera
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: JoAnna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Jenn-Yih
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods*; D014100:Toothpastes
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides