A new report advises parents to use fluoride toothpastes (with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million) to prevent tooth decay in their children. A major benefit will be reducing extensive and costly dental treatments in the future, including extractions.

But the authors, in a second related study, suggest that parents concerned about the risk of fluorosis – the discolouration or mottling of the teeth caused by excessive fluoride ingestion – should consult their dentist to discuss the benefits and risks.

Researchers for the Cochrane Oral Health Group, based at the School of Dentistry, The University of Manchester, have previously shown that fluoride toothpastes reduce dental decay by 24% on average compared to non-fluoride products.

The group's latest research, which involved 79 trials on 73,000 children worldwide, examined the effect of different children's toothpastes and found that those with fluoride concentrations less than 1,000 parts per million were only as effective as non-fluoride toothpastes at preventing tooth decay. Children's toothpastes range from 100ppm to 1,400ppm fluoride concentration.

The report suggests that brushing a child's teeth with a toothpaste containing fluoride before the age of 12 months may be associated with an increased risk of developing mild fluorosis. Swallowing large amounts of toothpaste may still cause fluorosis in children up to the age of six years when the permanent teeth are still developing, but using a small amount, carefully, will reduce these risks. After the age of six years, the teeth are fully developed and toothpaste can be used without fear of fluorosis.