The American Dental Association (ADA) is updating its recommendations when it comes to fighting cavities in children. The association has now suggested that parents should brush their children's teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth comes in in an effort to battle tooth decay. The new announcement actually expands the use of fluoride toothpaste for even young children.

"For half a century, the ADA has recommended that patients use fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities, and a review of scientific research shows that this holds true for all ages," said Edmond L. Truelove, chair of the Council on Scientific Affairs, in a news release. "Approximately 25 percent of children have or had cavities before entering kindergarten, so it's important to provide guidance to caregivers on the appropriate use of fluoride toothpaste to help prevent their children from developing cavities."

It's perhaps not surprising that children develop cavities. Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, and more than 16 million children suffer from untreated tooth decay in the U.S. It's difficult for children to properly brush their teeth themselves, so they have to rely on their caregivers to do so.

Now, it seems that there may be help. The Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA) now recommends that parents brush children who have just received their teeth with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. That's a change from the previous recommendation that children two to six years old should do the same.

The new guideline should help prevent cavities in children. In addition, it will hopefully prevent children from developing fluorosis, which is a mild discoloration of teeth that usually takes the form of faint lines. A small "smear" of toothpaste for children younger than three years could help prevent cavities and is less likely to cause fluorosis.

The findings are published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.