What Is the Best Toothpaste for Kids?
Your child’s first tooth is a huge milestone. It’s also your parental cue to start teaching your child how to properly care for their teeth.
You should take your child every 6 months to see the dentist. Proper oral care is a key part of maintaining your child’s overall health and wellbeing. Our teeth help us eat, talk, smile, and more—taking care of them is important.
Learn about the best toothpaste for your child, how to care for your child’s teeth, and how to practice proper hygiene.
Oral Care for Your Baby’s Teeth
Babies need proper oral care not just for their teeth, but for their overall oral health. It’s important to clean your baby’s mouth before and after they get their first tooth.
Cleaning your baby’s mouth and ensuring they learn and practice good oral hygiene habits is key to preserving your child’s oral health. Improper habits or lack thereof puts children at risk for cavities, infection, and tooth decay.
These conditions are often caused by food and liquid left in the mouth after they eat. If untreated, these conditions can be quite uncomfortable. This is why it’s so important to practice proper hygiene with your child from the start.
Baby teeth begin to come in at about 6 months of age. Teething usually continues until your child turns 2 or 3 years old.
There are different ways to clean your child’s mouth depending on their age.
0 to 6 Months Old
Wet a clean, soft washcloth with warm water and wrap it around your index finger. Gently wipe your baby’s gums from the back of the mouth to the front. Lightly rub away any leftover milk or formula.
Clean your baby’s mouth after each feeding. Try to prevent prolonged contact with sugars even in breastmilk. Always clean your baby’s mouth before they go to bed.
6 Months to 3 Years Old
When your child’s teeth start to appear, you can use a small, soft toothbrush to clean their mouth. You should brush your child’s teeth, tongue, and gums for 2 minutes at a time, twice a day. Once your child’s teeth start touching, you can start flossing.
If your child uses fluoridated toothpaste, teach them to spit the excess toothpaste out and avoid rinsing their mouth with water. This helps the fluoride protect their teeth.
The bacteria found in plaque can lead to early childhood tooth decay, so it’s important to regularly brush your child’s teeth and avoid sharing toothbrushes.
3 to 6 years old
When your child can write their name, they should be able to brush their teeth independently. Continue practicing with them either way! They should still brush their teeth for 2 minutes twice a day.
At this age, they should use about a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste.
You’ll probably have to help your child floss at this age. It’s helpful for them to watch you, too. You can make brushing and flossing a fun, nightly routine to do together.
Do Babies Need Toothpaste?
Yes, they do! As soon as your baby pops their first tooth, you should begin using toothpaste. This helps prevent tooth decay, cavities, and infections.
Using fluoride toothpaste helps reduce the risk of cavities, which is the most common dental condition in children. Using a rice grain-sized dollop of toothpaste on a kid’s toothbrush is all you’ll need for brushing.
The Dos & Don’ts of Ingredients
Because babies don’t always know how to spit, baby toothpaste is slightly different than adult toothpaste. Most types of baby toothpaste are safe if swallowed.
Some experts recommend avoiding fluoride toothpaste for infants and toddlers, so it’s best to talk to your dentist about whether fluoride toothpaste is right for your baby.
Now, there are some ways to determine whether or not a toothpaste is the right choice for your child:
GOOD SIGNS |
BAD SIGNS |
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Our Recommended Favourites
Some of our favourite toothpaste brands include:
- Burt’s Bees for Kids Toothpaste (CDA validated)
- Crest for Kids Toothpaste (CDA validated)
- Sensodyne ProNamel for Children Toothpaste (CDA validated)
- Hello Kid’s Fluoride Toothpaste (ADA validated)
- Colgate for Kids Toothpaste (ADA validated)
Talk to your dentist today about proper oral hygiene and care for your child, no matter the age! It’s never too early to start good habits.
