Children's Dental Products - A Buying Guide

It can be a struggle choosing toothpaste for a child. Parents want fluoride enriched, while kids want snazzy cartoon characters on the packaging along with bubble gum flavors. How on earth do you compromise?

How to pick the Best Toothpaste for Kids

As long as your kids are brushing, it doesn’t matter what toothpaste they are using, right? Well, it’s important that your kids like to brush and that they do so often. However, if they are using a sugary toothpaste without fluoride, you might like to rethink your toothpaste policy.

There’s nothing wrong with allowing your kids to participate in shopping for and selecting a toothpaste, but you should still provide some guidance and have the final say in any purchases that are made. Steer your kids toward a toothpaste that contains fluoride when they are old enough to use a fluorinated paste. Otherwise, let them select the brand and flavor they will enjoy.

When helping your child to brush his / her teeth, make sure to encourage them not to use too much toothpaste and take care not to swallow the paste. If they tend to swallow the toothpaste rather than spit it out, switch to a non-fluorinated paste until they are older.

Choosing the best Kid's Toothbrush

Make sure that when you buy a toothbrush for your child, that it matches up with the size of the child's mouth. Smaller mouths may require toddler-sized brushes for a few years.

Always choose a soft-bristled toothbrush for your child to avoid damaging the gums and teeth. Instruct your child to brush up and down, and not to put too much pressure on the teeth while brushing. Toothbrushes with grips on the handle can help kids who are still developing fine motor control. It can also help a smaller child keep hold of a wet, slippery toothbrush.

Just like with choosing the toothpaste, let the child have a say in what toothbrush they use as well. If they can pick the them and or color, they will better relate to it and you will be more likely to use it on their own and without issues.

In closing, just remember that just because it has cartoon characters, doesn't necessarily make it bad. Read the labels, and help your child make wise decisions - even if they do want the flashing lights on the brushes and goofy characters on the tube!