Best Toothpaste for Children: Safe & Effective Options

Many of the parents who come to Lema Dental Clinic at the childbirth stage learn about the importance of selecting the most suitable toothpaste for their kids in the first instance to keep their tiny teeth healthy and clean and to develop healthy oral hygiene habits that will last a lifetime. Whether for the purpose of tasting the fluoride-free options, children’s training toothpaste for the toddlers who can start taking care of themselves, or a specific toothpaste brand recommended by the dentist that they can use to ward off cavities, people have been searching for one place. In this regard, the only single guide here will be able to deliver smiles that are as radiant to a child in his infancy as during his growth till the stage when they become an adult. And certainly, whether it is in connection with taste, safety, or ingredients, kids’ toothpaste has what you cannot even imagine.

Wait a minute! Are you ready to join our exciting kids’ and baby toothpaste world?

When Should Kids Start Using Toothpaste?

You may think youngsters should wait for all their teeth to come in to start practicing good oral hygiene, but the ADA(American Dental Association) actually encourages the use of toothpaste in infants even before all teeth erupt. The ADA states that as soon as a single tooth shows up, parents can use a smear of toothpaste containing fluoride, which is about the size of a grain of rice.

As kids become older, they would need to use a different amount of toothpaste:

• 0 – 3 Years: rice grain size of toothpaste
• 3 – 6 Years: pea-sized amount
• 6 and up: regular brushing, such as adults

Introducing children to brushing eventually helps to start a fun and easy habit. And take our word; your later self will be grateful for the fact that you don’t need to chase a sugar-loving 7-year-old to brush his teeth.

Fluoride or Fluoride-Free: Which Is Better for Children?

The toothpaste debate: fluoride vs. fluoride-free. It’s a debate that sounds much like a new trend with the pineapple and pizza argument between childless people and parents.

Fluoride toothpaste has become the most popular choice for preventing cavities, and most dentists (including the professionals at Lema Dental Clinic) recommend it for kids as soon as they are able to spit and not swallow. Fluoride strengthens enamel and fights against cavities, especially in children who are fond of sticky snacks and juice.

Without fluoride, children’s toothpaste is suitable for toddlers who are still learning to spit or for parents who make natural products the first choice. These toothpastes are void of any health risk and available in a variety of gentle and fruity flavors with no synthetic colors or foaming agents; swallowing is safe if it occurs.

Summing it up:

• Use child-safe fluoride toothpaste only for children below the age of 3.
• Continue with fluoride toothpaste when your child learns to spit.
• Remove fluoride if you’re anxious about swallowing or want an eco-friendly selection.

The Best Toothpaste Brands of 2022 for Your Kids According to Dentists

Speaking of kids’ toothpaste brands you can trust, here’s a dentist-approved list that will brighten your bathroom shelf:

🌟 Tom’s of Maine Natural Kids Toothpaste

• It is without fluoride, with all-natural ingredients and fun flavors such as Silly Strawberry.
• They are especially useful for children who are just learning to brush.
• It is safe due to being nontoxic; thus, it’s okay if swallowed.

🌟 Hello Kids Fluoride Toothpaste

• A very gentle fluoride-based option with no artificial sweeteners.
• Being vegan and cruelty-free.
• Because of the watermelon taste.

🌟 Colgate My First Toothpaste

• Specially created for infants and toddlers who are just beginning to get used to brushing their teeth well.
• This is a fluoride-free formula, and it does not fizz in the mouth since that might be uncomfortable for babies.
• It comprises a gentle gel for babies which is also safe to drink; this should not give the parent any fear of what the baby will do if, at all, it happens.

🌟 Orajel Elmo Training Toothpaste

• This toothpaste is one that toddlers have a special place for and is shaped in the form of Elmo, who is a character of their liking on the tube.
• It is another fluoride-free toothpaste, but it is a user-friendly product for children aged 18+ months.
• This is an excellent deal for this dental product in the market, as it is available and at a price that will not scare off parents.

🌟 Crest Kid’s Cavity Protection

• Crest Kid’s Cavity Protection contains the cavity-fighting ingredient of fluoride and mild mint flavor, thus making it great for older kids.
• With this children’s toothpaste of the Crest brand, kids are in good hands because they have accurate cavity protection and dental caries prevention.
• This product has been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) and is widely recommended for kids who need solid protection against cavities.

How to Choose the Right Toothpaste for Your Child’s Age

Selecting toothpaste is not as straightforward as it may seem, especially when you have a little child who is teething and a 7-year-old who is fond of sweets in your house.

Well, here’s a quick age-appropriate guide:

👶 0–2 Years (Infants & Toddlers)

• Opt for fluoride-free training toothpaste.
• Ensure its safety when accidentally ingested.
• Cooperative flavors, such as banana or bubble gum, work wonders with kids!

👧 3–5 Years (Preschoolers)

• The use of fluoride in peas increments is allowed.
• Go for toothpaste with gentle formulas and mild flavors.
• Start demonstrating spitting, yet always being around them.

🧒 6+ Years (School-age Children)

• Move on to a normal children’s toothpaste that includes fluoride.
• Select the ADA-approved products that are good for avoiding cavities.
• They should be given a choice of flavors-that way, they will be motivated!

Extra tip: A brand that has the ADA seal is a trustworthy brand, which indicates its safety and functionality.

Tips to Make Brushing Fun and Easy for Kids

Let’s face it—some days are easier than others for getting your child to pick up that toothbrush. It’s more like your determination facing a little, toothpaste-covered toothbrush.

Here are some of the best ways to stop a fight and ensure that brushing is fun and appealing to your kiddo:

🎵 1. Turn It Into a Game

• Utilize apps or two-minute songs for brushing to make it feel like a mini party.
• Set a timer and let them “race the clock”.

🦄 2. Let Them Pick the Toothbrush & Toothpaste

• Be it unicorns or dinosaurs, when they are allowed to select their own equipment, they honestly feel engaged.
• Kid-favorite flavors such as berry, melon, and bubblegum work wonders.

💃 3. Brushing Together

• Children often imitate their parents’ behavior, so if you brush your teeth with them (let the faces be funny), they will copy it easily.
• You can become a good role model for your children by demonstrating proper brushing technique.

🎨 4. Create a Chart for Brushing

• Using stickers, golden stars, or small prizes to reward brushing twice daily.
• Change the bathroom into a chart for sticker paradise.

🦷 5. Make the First Dentist Visit a Happy Memory

• Commit to being at the dental office with them at the time of their first annual dental check-up.
• Positive experiences at places like Lema Dental Clinic make dental care feel safe and normal.

What role does toothpaste play in oral health?

Another part of maintaining good oral health is using the toothbrush regularly and adequately. The frequency as well as the quality of the brushing is what actually determines the oral health of your child. That is key to you as a parent-facilitator through the process of establishing a good brushing routine. Changing toothpaste to one with a better impact on teeth’s health or selecting healthy snacks such as apples, carrots, and cheese, is a good alternative in case you notice your child likes sugary food.

Don’t disregard the importance of flossing, too! Everybody, including kids, can utilize floss picks or flossers that are safe for children from the moment they get two teeth that are close together.

FAQ: Best Toothpaste for Children: Safe & Effective Options