What is the recommended toothpaste amount for children 2 years old and over?

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

Answer: (C)

For children two years old and older, a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is recommended. This tiny amount provides enough fluoride to help prevent tooth decay while minimizing the risk of swallowing excess paste, which is important because young kids may not spit out all the toothpaste yet. Using more paste would increase fluoride ingestion without adding meaningful extra protection, while using no toothpaste would miss out on a key preventive benefit. A smear or no toothpaste would not deliver the same level of caries prevention, and a dime-sized amount would significantly raise the risk of fluoride exposure if swallowed. Supervise brushing to help them spit out the paste and rinse after brushing.