What amount of toothpaste should be placed on the toothbrush for children under 2 years old?

• A. No toothpaste
• B. Small smear
• C. Pea-sized
• D. Dime-sized

Answer: (B)

The amount of toothpaste for children under 2 should be a tiny smear, about the size of a grain of rice. This small amount provides enough fluoride to help strengthen developing enamel and prevent new cavities, while minimizing the amount of toothpaste the child is likely to swallow. Since toddlers often swallow toothpaste, using a larger amount could lead to excessive fluoride ingestion and increase the risk of dental fluorosis during tooth development. As kids get older and start spitting more reliably, the recommended amount increases to pea-sized for preschoolers, and larger amounts are not appropriate for this younger age group.