How to Choose the Best Toothpaste for Your Child

Are you constantly managing the mental load of making healthy choices for your family? From controlling screen time to offering nutritious snacks, decision fatigue is a common challenge. Picking the right toothpaste shouldn't add to the stress of parenting.

With so many types and brands of toothpaste available today, it can feel overwhelming to find the perfect one for your needs. Are you looking for anti-plaque or anti-cavity options? Maybe whitening options are a top priority for your family. Have you wondered if charcoal toothpaste really lives up to the hype? And if your child has sensory sensitivities, it can be tricky to choose what's best.

Here are 5 quick tips to help you navigate the toothpaste aisle to find the best toothpaste for your child:

1. Consider Your Child’s Dental Needs

The first step in choosing the best toothpaste is to consider your child’s specific oral health needs so you can select a toothpaste that addresses them. Ask your child’s pediatric dentist at their next appointment to ask for their recommendation of a toothpaste that will meet your child’s needs. 

2. Look for the ADA Seal of Approval

When a toothpaste has the American Dental Association's seal of approval, it indicates that the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs has reviewed the product. You should look for ADA approval on any dental product to be confident it is safe and effective. This seal can help you to narrow down the choices on the toothpaste aisle.

3. Check Ingredients

The ingredients list on toothpaste can be mysterious. How do you know which ingredients are helpful and which to avoid? Here is a helpful list of some common ingredients used in toothpaste: 

Fluoride

The first ingredient is fluoride. When used correctly, fluoride is both safe and effective in helping prevent cavities in children’s teeth. Children can start using fluoride toothpaste as soon as their first tooth appears (around 6 months), but with a smear the size of a rice grain, and should use a pea-sized amount after age 3, always with supervision to spit, not swallow.

Abrasive Ingredients

Toothpastes typically contain abrasive ingredients to help scrub off food particles and dental plaque and to remove surface-level stains from children’s teeth. Typical examples of such abrasive ingredients include calcium carbonate, silica gels, and aluminum oxide. While abrasive ingredients help clean teeth, an overly abrasive toothpaste can be too harsh on a child’s dental enamel, wearing the enamel down over time. If you check that the toothpaste carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, you can be confident it will not be too abrasive for your child. 

Sweeteners

Have you ever wondered why children’s toothpastes taste so good? All those fun flavors are the result of a combination of natural and/or artificial flavorings plus sweeteners. The ADA does not allow any approved product to contain sugar, since cavity-causing bacteria love sugar. Instead, many toothpastes are sweetened with sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sorbitol, and xylitol. 

Xylitol, in particular, has been extensively studied over the last several decades for its potential as a tooth-friendly sugar substitute. Discuss any questions or concerns related to additives or sweeteners with your child’s dentist.

Flavor

Children often dislike strong mint toothpaste or find it spicy. Fortunately, there are many flavor options to choose from. After you narrow down the other factors that are important to you, allow your child to taste-test the different flavor options at home and see which flavor they enjoy the most. Enjoying the toothpaste flavor goes a long way to encourage regular toothbrushing

Ask Your Dentist

When in doubt, always go to the professionals. Your trusted pediatric dentist in Houston and the surrounding areas, Greater Houston Pediatric Dentistry, will be able to recommend a safe and appropriate choice for your child.

---

Ideas for Tooth-Friendly Stocking Stuffers:

As we head into Christmas week, here are a few helpful ideas for small gifts and stocking stuffers that are great alternatives to candy. 

Consider smile-friendly, fun alternatives such as small toys, books, craft supplies, toiletries, toothbrushes, and flavored floss. Don’t forget that new tube of toothpaste! Adding a fun new flavor to their stockings just might get your child excited to run and brush their teeth when the merriment comes to an end!

These thoughtful gifts keep the holiday magic alive without adding unnecessary sugar to your child’s day.

---

THE BEST PEDIATRIC DENTAL CARE STOPS PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY START

Protect your child's teeth with advanced dental treatment and experienced dentists. Preventive dental care at Greater Houston Pediatric Dentistry helps children avoid potential dental and oral health issues and guards against more serious conditions before they arise.

Staying proactive with preventive care helps keep your child’s teeth healthy, strong, and cavity-free.

Schedule Your Child’s Post-Holiday Checkup

One of the best ways to protect your child’s smile this season is to schedule a post-holiday dental checkup at one of our Greater Houston Pediatric Dentistry locations. Our experienced pediatric dentists will make sure your child’s teeth are healthy, cavity-free, and ready for the new year.

Our kid-friendly team is always happy to share personalized tips to keep your little one’s smile bright and healthy—during the holidays and all year long.

Call our office today or request an appointment online—we look forward to caring for your child’s smile!