A randomized clinical study to assess ingestion of dentifrice by children

• Published in: Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology 2016-03, Vol.75, p.66-71
• Main Authors: Strittholt, C.A., McMillan, D.A., He, T., Baker, R.A., Barker, M.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Chloride-supplemented marker dentifrice; Cross-Over Studies; Dentifrice usage and ingestion in children; Dentifrices - analysis; Eating; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Female; Flavored dentifrices; Flavoring Agents; Fluoride dentifrices; Humans; Lithium; Lithium Chloride - analysis; Male; Single-Blind Method
• ISSN: 0273-2300; 1096-0295
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.12.008

This study investigated whether there was a difference in amounts of dentifrice ingested by children based on age using pea-sized instructions. The study had a randomized, single-blinded, 3-period, crossover design modelled after Barnhart et al. (1974) with one regular-flavored and two specially-flavored dentifrices used ad libitum. Subjects were enrolled in three groups: 2–4, 5–7, and 8–12 years. They were instructed to brush at home as they would normally with each dentifrice for 3 weeks (9 weeks total). On weekly study-site visits, subjects brushed with the assigned dentifrice containing a lithium marker to measure the amount of dentifrice ingested and used. Averaging across dentifrices, amounts ingested were: 0.205 g (2–4 yr), 0.125 g (5–7 yr) and 0.135 g (8–12 yr), demonstrating 2–4 year-olds ingested significantly more than older children (p ≤ 0.002). Averaging across dentifrices, amounts used were: 0.524 g (2–4 yr), 0.741 g (5–7 yr) and 0.978 g (8–12 yr) suggesting an age-related effect (p