What is the best toothpaste for kids, and when should parents start to use it? According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA), parents should introduce child-strength fluoride toothpaste from the age of 18 months. Continue reading to learn more about the types of kids’ toothpaste to use at all stages of your child’s development.
Children’s toothpaste – What to use and when
One of the most important aspects of kids’ dentistry is helping parents care for their children’s teeth from infancy. Toothpaste helps remove the sticky film (plaque) that forms on the surfaces of the teeth, which can contribute to gum disease or tooth decay. The majority of toothpaste contains fluoride, making teeth more resistant to cavities and aiding remineralisation of the early areas of tooth decay.
Preparing your child for good oral health throughout life starts before their baby teeth even appear. Typically, there’s no need to use toothpaste until they reach the age of 18 months. However, your dentist may recommend using children’s toothpaste earlier, depending on their oral health, which will be identified at their 12-month dental visit.
As a rule of thumb, we advise parents to clean their baby’s gums by rubbing gently with a damp washcloth. As their first tooth appears, brush it gently twice daily with a soft child-size toothbrush and water. You may wonder why you’re bothering, but trust us, it’s worth it in the long run. The few seconds it takes in the early days to wipe the milk from those cute little teeth reduces the chance of bacteria gathering and damaging them later on.
Now is also the time to take advantage of our kids’ dentistry services and schedule an appointment for your child’s first dental visit.
Kids’ dentistry helps children (and their parents) keep their teeth in good shape and get into healthy habits they can take with them into adulthood. Our kids’ dentistry team is kind and gentle, making visiting the dentist fun and educational.
So, getting back to the best toothpaste for kids …
How to choose the right children’s toothpaste?
Covered with popular cartoon characters and very little helpful information on the packaging, navigating the kids’ toothpaste shelves in supermarkets can be tricky. Ultimately, the best toothpaste for your child depends on their age, determining the level of fluoride beneficial for their particular age group. The chosen brand may also rely on your kid’s favourite flavour.
Should your toddler complain that the toothpaste is too strong, we have included non-minty flavours on our list of best toothpaste for kids. Finally, don’t worry if your child hasn’t learned to spit out yet. Toothpaste works by contacting the tooth enamel, so just leave it on to work its magic. You only need the tiniest smear of toothpaste on the brush.
What kid’s toothpaste do we recommend?
Below are our recommendations based on research and customer reviews.
0-18 months
Brushing children’s teeth is recommended when their first tooth appears, which can be as early as six months. However, ingesting too much fluoride while the teeth develop can result in visible enamel discolouration and pitting, which is why it’s recommended in kid’s dentistry not to use fluoride toothpaste until your child reaches 18 months.
Best toothpaste for kids – 18 months to 5 years (inclusive)
Your child’s permanent teeth are waiting in the gums below their milk teeth. By taking proper care of the milk teeth, parents can help their child’s permanent teeth come through healthy and strong. The guidelines recommend a low fluoride toothpaste (500ppm) for kids with a low risk of decay in this age group. Two of the best children’s toothpaste in this category include:
Macleans Milk Teeth 0-3 Years
With its mild formula, this toothpaste is ideal for helping babies from 0-3 years get accustomed to the taste of toothpaste. Since tooth enamel in babies is 50% thinner than in adults, it’s more susceptible to attack. Kids’ diets typically change as they age and may include more sugars from food, sweets and drinks, which changes plaque into acid that causes tooth decay and cavities. Macleans Milk Teeth kid’s toothpaste provides ‘sugar acid protection’ to strengthen and defend teeth from attack and has a child-friendly taste.
Pros
- Trusted brand
- Enamel and cavity prevention
- Designed by dental experts
- Colourful recyclable packaging your child will love
Cons
- Should not be swallowed
Price: AU$1.99 per 63g tube
Colgate Kids Junior Bluey Toothpaste
With its mild mint gel flavour, Colgate makes it fun for kids aged 2-5 years to brush their teeth. Recommended by the Australian Denta Association, Colgate Kids Junior Bluey toothpaste is gluten and sugar-free and is an effective low-fluoride toothpaste clinically proven to protect against cavities.
Pros
- Vegan
- Good size recyclable tube
- Fun packaging
Cons
- Contains sulphate
Price: AU$2.99 per 90g tube
Here at Dental 266, we often revise the guidelines and recommend a more potent fluoride option (1000ppm) for kids that can spit out, have decay, enamel defects and a diet that includes frequent carbohydrates. One of the best kids’ toothpastes that meets this criterion is from Macleans.
Macleans Little Teeth
Macleans Little Teeth toothpaste is designed for kids between the ages of 4-6 years and offers triple-stripe protection for strong, healthy teeth and guards against cavities. Parents like that it has no strong scent or artificial flavours like some kids’ toothpaste.
Pros
- Not too minty, so no sting
- Kids love the stripe effect
- Eye-catching packaging
Cons
- Contains sulphate
Price: AU$1.99 per 63g tube
Best toothpaste for kids – 6 years and up
We recommend toothpaste with a fluoride content of 1450ppm for children in this age bracket that can spit out reasonably well. Parents can upgrade to Macleans My Big Teeth or Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection Junior if their kids already use either brand. Alternatively, we recommend Oral B, a big name in kids’ dentistry.
Oral B Junior Toothpaste 6-Years Star Wars
This toothpaste was developed with dentists’ expertise to enable children to care for their oral health and protect teeth against acids from sugars in everyday food and drinks. Sugar-free and with a mild mint flavour, Oral B states that regular brushing equates to healthy, strong teeth.
Pros
- Pleasant flavour
- Fun packaging
- Leaves teeth feeling fresh and clean
Cons
- The cap can be a bit fiddly for children
Price: AU$1.74 per 95g tube
Best natural toothpaste for kids
GAIA Natural Probiotic Toothpaste
This yummy-tasting toothpaste range hails from Australia and is cruelty-free, with 99% natural ingredients enriched with xylitol and probiotics. It supports oral hygiene and is suitable for kids from the age of 6 months. Available in Berry Burst, Bubblegum, Fruit Smoothie and Mild Mint, your child will be more than happy to brush their teeth any time of the day or night.
Pros
- Free from artificial colours and flavours
- 99% natural ingredients
- Suitable for all ages from 6 months
- Can be swallowed
Cons
- Fluoride-free means limited protection
- Expensive
Price: AU$6.99 per 50g tube
Best kids’ toothpaste for those that dislike mint
Tom’s of Maine Anticavity Fluoride Children’s Toothpaste
Whether the name appeals to us or the kid-friendly design on the tube, our particular favourite in this category is Tom of Maine Silly Strawberry fluoride toothpaste. Calcium and silica gently clean your child’s teeth while the delicious natural fruit flavour appeals to their taste buds – no bubble gum flavours or artificial sparkles here!
Pros
- No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives
- Not tested on animals
- Vegan
Cons
- Price is relatively high
Price: Approx AU$6.95 per 90g tube
Best children’s toothpaste for those with allergies to flavours and colours
Alfree Plain Toothpaste
Everyone needs to brush their teeth, but unfortunately, some toothpaste contains ingredients that affect kids with allergies to flavours, colours, and other sensitivities. Alfree Plain Toothpaste is suitable for children aged 4 and above and is free from fluoride, gluten, sugar, parabens, SLS, flavours, colours and salicylate. One customer review stated that their son had been getting asthma from using regular toothpaste but that it had stopped since using Alfree Plain Toothpaste.
Pros
- Ideal for those with high sensitivity to salicylates
- Non-abrasive
Cons
- Not great tasting
- The flip lid can be challenging for children
Price: AU$6.49 per 100g tube
This concludes our list of the best toothpaste for kids. Hopefully, these recommendations will help you choose a toothpaste that’s right for your child.
The takeaway
The most important factor when selecting toothpaste for your child is the age recommendation on the packaging since this determines the amount of fluoride appropriate for your child’s age group. Generally speaking, children under 6 should use low-fluoride toothpaste, whereas older children are recommended to use adult-strength toothpaste, provided they can spit it out. Typically, your chosen brand will be one your child likes the taste of.
Are you looking for caring kids’ dentistry?
Visiting the dentist as a child doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. That’s why we tailor our services with kids in mind – from a friendly smile to a ride in the dental chair – to make the experience as pleasant as it can possibly be. Why not schedule a kid’s appointment with Dental 266 by calling on 02 9051 0600 and see how going to the dentist can be fun?
References
Australian Dental Association: Children’s Oral Health – Caring For Your Child’s Oral Health
https://www.ada.org.au/getattachment/Your-Dental-Health/Resources-for-Professionals/Resources-for-Children-0-11/Children-s-Oral-Health/ADA_OHP_Factsheets_Childrens-Oral-Health-18032019.pdf.aspx#:~:text=Use%20child%2Dstrength%20fluoride%20toothpaste%20from%2018%20months%20of%20age.&text=Parents%20should%20brush%20and%20floss%20their%20child’s%20teeth.
Center For Disease Control and Prevention: Use of Toothpaste and Toothbrushing Patterns Among Children and Adolescents — United States, 2013–2016
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6804a3.htm
Healthline: Should You Be Going Sulphate-Free?
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sulfates
Healthline: Salicylate Sensitivity: Causes, Symptoms, and Foods to Avoid
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/salicylate-sensitivity
