What’s the Best Toothpaste for My Child?

Good oral hygiene is important for everyone, but parents who want to encourage their child to brush their teeth may wonder: what’s the best toothpaste for my child? Unfortunately, the same toothpaste that adults use is not the best one for young children whose teeth are even more sensitive because they are in the development stage.

Many of the common ingredients in dental care products for adults can be dangerous to the health of children and damaging to their teeth. Mouthwash can contain as much of 30% alcohol and most of the toothpastes that adults use contain harsh abrasives and cleaning agents that can erode the enamel on young teeth and irritate a child’s sensitive gums. Parents should be sure to keep these adult products out of reach of young children.

Although fluoride is added to most toothpaste, parents should use no more than a “pea-size” amount when cleaning their child’s teeth and use a soft cloth to clean the mouth afterwards to avoid the child from swallowing the toothpaste. When a child begins to brush their own teeth, monitor them carefully to be sure that they spit out the toothpaste after brushing. This will help prevent ingesting fluoride which stains the teeth.

Low abrasion toothpaste made with Xylitol and a mild flavor is the best option because the level of abrasion in toothpaste can damage the enamel, make the teeth more sensitive to heat and cold and weaken the tooth making it more susceptible to chipping or breakage.
Children are very sensitive to flavorings and most of the flavorings used in adult toothpastes are for the purpose of masking the taste of the abrasive and cleaning ingredients. But these toothpastes are much too strong for children and one of the main reasons that children dread brushing their teeth twice a day.