The American Dental Association is recommending that parents make their children brush their teeth fluoride toothpaste as soon as their first tooth come in, CBS News reported.

Previously, the organization recommended fluoride toothpaste for children 2 to 6 years old.

Parents are being advised to give their kids a tiny drop of fluoride toothpaste as soon as six months because their teeth are at risk for decay as soon as the first tooth appear, according to the ADA.

"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," Dr. Edmond Truelove, chairman of the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs, said in an association news release.

The recommendation changes comes after a recent review published in  the Journal of the American Dental Association found that brushing with "fluoride toothpaste had statistically significant benefits on preventing decay and cavities," CBS News reported.

"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," Truelove reported.

The updated guidelines are meant to help prevent cavities in children while limiting their risk of fluorosis, which is a mild discoloration of the teeth.

More than 16 million kids in the United States are suffering with tooth decay, according to the statistical figures revealed by the ADA. They also found a significant increase in number of visits by pre-school children with multiple cavities to dentists.