Best Toothbrush And Toothpaste Options For Kids: A Dentist’s Guide

Kids are dependent on their parents for almost everything. If you are a parent, you have a major responsibility on your shoulders! From choosing what your child eats to how they brush their teeth, you should keep an eye on all their actions.

Never be ignorant about choosing the best toothbrush and toothpaste for kids. Your child's teeth and gums are sensitive. You need to ensure that they receive proper dental care to make them stronger as they grow old. Shoulder this responsibility as a parent to set a solid foundation during your child's early years.

It is important to make the right choices while buying toothbrushes and pastes for your little one. This may look like a minor decision, but it has a great impact. It is you who has the power to decide how strong or weak your child's teeth and gums will be!

It is always better to seek professional help, especially if you are a first-time parent. If you live in Dubai, you can contact Magnum Clinic for help. Whether you are looking for a pediatric dentist in DSO Dubai or a child-friendly dentist in JLT, we are happy to help. Magnum Clinic has experienced dental professionals who will help you make the best choices for your child.

You can also visit us with your little one for consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. We will do our best to make it a fun trip for your child!

Until then, here is our take on the best toothbrush and toothpaste for kids. Our advice applies to children living anywhere in the world.

Before diving right in, let us discuss the importance of oral hygiene for children.

Why Is Oral Hygiene (Even) More Important For Kids?

Oral hygiene is important for everyone. However, the hygiene children follow forms the basis of their oral health. Your child can receive the gift of healthy teeth or the curse of dental issues depending on the oral hygiene you teach them.

You should pay more and more attention to your child’s oral hygiene for the following reasons:

Preventing Cavities And Decay

It is very easy for a kid to get cavities and tooth decay. It can result from anything, from the candies your child eats to the beverages they drink.

All these problems arise when there is a lack of oral hygiene during your kid's early years. The issues will also be present when your little one grows old if they are not treated. Always start early and teach your kid how to brush and floss the right way. It is also better to keep them away from harmful foods and drinks.

A Variety Of Pains

Without proper oral hygiene, your child may suffer from mild to severe dental issues. Many of these problems are painful and interrupt their daily activities.

For example, if your child has overbite or underbite, they will find chewing or closing their mouth properly difficult. They may also struggle to concentrate at school because of the pain.

Speech Problems

Your child’s oral structure is directly related to how they speak. Kids with overcrowded teeth may lisp. Overbite can make it difficult to close their mouth.

All these problems affect how your little one speaks. Kids who grow up with speech problems are often underconfident. Their social relationships are also affected by such issues.

Speech issues also arise when your child’s teeth fall off due to decay or other dental problems. When kids have some missing teeth, it affects their confidence, too.

Long-term Damages

Many dental problems have long-lasting effects if you do not resolve them on time. You can find them normal right now, but they can get much worse when your child grows old. Every parent should be careful of these issues.

Maintaining efficient oral hygiene can help your child either reverse minor issues or prevent them.

Toothbrush and toothpaste are the key players of a child’s oral hygiene. Making the right choices here can have a long-lasting influence on your little one’s life.

Our dental professionals have handled several cases involving kids and have enough experience to give you valuable advice.

Let us see how you should choose the best toothbrush and toothpaste for kids.

How Should You Choose The Best Toothbrush For Kids?

Brushing is a daily activity and has a significant impact on your child’s oral hygiene.

Keep these factors in mind while choosing the best toothbrush for your little one:

Soft Bristles

The best dentists across the globe will recommend a soft bristle toothbrush for toddlers. Children have sensitive gums and enamel. Hard bristles can harm them easily.

Always go for soft (and, if possible, ultra-soft) bristles while buying a toothbrush for your child. This protects your little one from any irritation or erosion of enamel.

Moreover, you should buy a toothbrush that has round bristle tips. These brushes keep your kid’s gums safe. They also improve the overall brushing experience.

Small Brush Head

Our dental professionals at Magnum Clinic recommend paying attention to the size of a brush’s head before buying it. Smaller brush heads can easily reach different areas of your child’s mouth. Kids need an all-rounder when it comes to oral care! Every set of teeth, from the ones at the front to the molars, needs a thorough cleaning and nurturing every day.

You should also choose a small brush head because it reduces discomfort. Kids have cute little mouths that are best nurtured using smaller brush heads.

Non-slip Handle

You should give your child a toothbrush with a non-slip handle, especially if your child is younger than five. Kids are the clumsiest humans on earth! They have short attention spans and turn everything into a toy.

Choose an ergonomic toothbrush with a tight grip. These brushes are perfect for children who are just learning to brush on their own. Slippery handles will only worsen your job and increase unnecessary mess!

The best toothbrush for kids is the one that has a rubber or textured grip. The next time you visit a supermarket, just ask for a non-slipper toothbrush for your child.

Fun Design

Children love beautiful-looking objects. Give them anything flashy, and they will love it! Keeping this in mind, you should choose a toothbrush that has an exciting and catchy design.

Go for a toothbrush that includes your kid's favorite colors or cartoons on its design. Children hate the routine of brushing their teeth every day. If their brushes look fun, the struggle automatically reduces.

You can also take your little one along to buy their toothbrush. Have them choose the design they like the best. Kids love taking ownership of things! Your kid may be willing to brush voluntarily if it is the brush they chose.

Manual Or Electric Toothbrush?

The electric toothbrush has disrupted the market for a few years now. While adults love using them, should you get one for your child, too?

An electric toothbrush doesn’t harm kids, but it is better for the ones who are older than 3. By this age, most children know the basics of brushing and can handle an electric toothbrush.

If your child is younger than 3, you should give them a manual toothbrush. You should also be present and help them brush their teeth every day. In fact, kids of this age hardly have any knowledge of brushing. It is as good as buying a toothbrush for your use!

Moreover, an electric toothbrush is more engaging for older kids because of the sound, rhythm, and constant motion. However, monitor them when they use these brushes. They will work only if they are used properly.

Flexible Neck

Look for toothbrushes with flexible necks. These brushes bend easily, even when your little one gets aggressive. If a brush is too stiff, it won't absorb shocks and end up harming your child's teeth or gums.

Many kids brush aggressively if no one is around. Using a brush with a flexible neck can keep your kid safe from accidents caused by their own little adventures!

ADA Approval

Our dentists recommend using toothbrushes that come with the ADA (American Dental Association) approval. This applies to all toothbrushes, especially if you are buying them for kids.

Age-appropriate Toothbrush

Your child’s age should help you choose the right toothbrush for them.

The four major age categories here are:

• 0 to 3 years
• 4 to 6 years
• 7 to 10 years
• 10+ years

Kids between 0 and 3 years should be given a finger-slip toothbrush made of silicone. You can move on to a small-headed brush after your kid turns one.

The toothbrush handles slightly increase for toddlers ages 4 and 6. It gets even slimmer for kids aged 7 to 10.

You can finally give your child an adult toothbrush after they turn ten years old.

Built-in Timer

If possible, buy a toothbrush that comes with a built-in timer. Kids are reckless and lose track of time. The timer will notify them when they should stop brushing. It is unhealthy for kids to brush for too long or too short.

How Should You Choose The Best Toothpaste For Kids?

Let us now move on to dentist-recommended toothpaste for kids. You will find a plethora of different toothpaste options for your little one. Here is how you can choose the best one:

Does It Have Fluoride?

This is often the first question parents ask while buying toothpaste for their kids. Fluoride has a lot of benefits, but its consumption should be limited, especially for these little souls.

Look for the best non-fluoride toothpaste for toddlers if your child is younger than three years. Keep your babies away from fluoride as much as possible.

If your kid is between the ages of three and six, you can choose safe fluoride toothpaste for kids. Ensure that the fluoride content is no more than 1000 ppm.

Kids older than six can use toothpaste with normal fluoride content (1000 ppm to 1450). You can completely eliminate this mineral if you want and buy fluoride-free toothpaste made for adults.

ADA Approval

The best toothbrush and toothpaste for kids should be ADA-approved. Look for this seal of approval on the toothpaste you buy for your little ones.

Checking Ingredients

Before you add toothpaste to your cart, turn it around and go through its ingredients. Ensure that the product has safe ingredients for your kid.

Ask a dental professional for the best child-friendly ingredients in toothpaste before you go shopping. Our pediatric dentists in Dubai don’t allow their clients to buy toothpaste containing:

• Artificial sweeteners
• Artificial dyes
• Harmful preservatives
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

Flavored Toothpaste

Kids will always have some excuse not to brush their teeth! Giving them flavored toothpaste can motivate them to brush every morning and night.

Look for flavors your child loves the most. You can get your kid toothpaste with flavors like strawberry, fruits, bubblegum, and more.

Gentle Cleaning

Always buy toothpaste with a gentle cleaning formula. Kids have sensitive teeth and gums that might get damaged otherwise. Harsher kinds of toothpaste can erode your child's enamel and cause many dental problems. Just like toothbrushes, toothpaste products should also be completely gentle to your little one's teeth.

Wrapping Up: You Can Now Go On A Shopping Spree!

Now that you know what to look for in the best toothbrush and toothpaste for kids, you can go shopping for your little one! If you have any doubts, you can always approach our pediatric dentists at Magnum Clinic. We will help you choose the best brushes and pastes for your child, preserving their million-dollar smile for years to come!