How much toothpaste should a child over 2 be using?

• A. A pea-sized amount
• B. A rice-grain amount
• C. A dab the size of a pea
• D. Pea-sized amount

Answer: (D)

For a child over two, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is the recommended amount. This size provides enough fluoride to help prevent decay while minimizing the chance of swallowing too much fluoride during brushing. Supervising brushing so they spit out the toothpaste and avoiding vigorous rinsing afterward helps fluoride stay on the teeth longer and maximize protection. As a reference, younger children use even smaller amounts (a smear or rice-grain size), but once they’re past age two, the pea-sized guideline is the standard practice.