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While some people might claim that good dental health habits don’t need to be taken seriously until after the baby teeth fall out, the truth is that it actually starts with tooth and gum care at the toddler stage. That being said, at least one of these top six best toddler toothpaste choices will probably work.
According to MouthHealth.org, as sponsored by the American Dental Association, tooth decay can actually start as soon as your baby’s first tooth breaks through the gums. For this reason, it’s important to find the right fluoride-free toothpaste for your toddler as early on as possible.
When brushing your baby or toddler’s teeth, another important thing to remember is the amount of toothpaste to use. For children up to age three, use a rice grain size dollop of toothpaste on their brush, and for toddlers ages three and up, a pea size drop of toothpaste is substantial.
By keeping bottles out of the crib and by not developing a habit of sending your toddler to bed with a bottle, you’re already succeeding in preventing tooth decay. Finding the best toddler toothpaste option is the next step in maintaining your toddler’s dental health.
Table of Contents
1. Orajel Training Toothpaste
Since some parents might already be familiar with the Orajel brand because of teething, they might be more inclined to trust the Orajel Training Toothpaste before many other toddler toothpaste choices. As a fluoride-free training toothpaste, it comes in different fruity flavors that are safe if swallowed and a variety of characters most toddlers will find comforting, like My Little Pony, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Elmo.
But even being flavored, Orajel Training Toothpaste is also sugar-free and paraben-free. Luckily, it can be found in most drug stores, either as a single pack or in a package with marching toddler toothbrushes, and even online.
- Child Age Range: You can use the Orajel Training Toothpaste from three months to four years old.
- Where To Buy: It’s available in-store at Walmart or Target and online on Amazon.
- The Best Part: Since Orajel Training Toothpaste is safe to use as early as three months old, your toddler can get in the habit of brushing their teeth early on and with the same toothpaste they’ll use for literal years.
- The Not So Great: With the different fruity flavor options, it might be difficult for your toddler to narrow down what he or she prefers over the others.
- Price:
Orajel Elmo FluorideFree Training Toothpaste$3.85 ($2.57 / Ounce)Check PriceWe earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.05/26/2023 04:11 pm GMT
2. My First Colgate
Colgate has its own fluoride-free baby and toddler toothpaste, My First Colgate, which can be used for both infants and toddlers who have teeth that can be brushed. Colgate itself is a trusted toothpaste brand many homes might already regularly use and so for them, it would make sense to have their toddlers start with the same brand.
Like most toddler toothpastes, My First Colgate has a fruity flavor and is free from artificial colors, sodium lauryl sulfate, and preservatives. Because it’s fluoride-free, it’s also safe if swallowed, which is important for toddlers, who are typically not as experienced with brushing their teeth on a regular basis.
- Child Age Range: My First Colgate is for babies and children from zero to two years old.
- Where To Buy: It’s available in-store at Walgreens or Target and online on Amazon.
- The Best Part: The stand up tube with its twist-off cap means less mess when dispensing toothpaste for your toddler.
- The Not So Great: For some babies or toddlers, the advertised mild fruit flavor is more bitter or cough syrup-tasting.
- Price: Colgate My First Fluoride Free Mild Fruit Toothpaste, 1.75 Ounce.
3. Kid’s Crest Pro-Health Stages
The Kid’s Crest Pro-Health Stages toothpaste might be the best option for toddlers who are ready to graduate to the toothpaste they’ll be using beyond their toddler years too. It still doesn’t have a minty flavor toothpaste is known for, but it does provide cavity protection and is gentle on tooth enamel for the most part.
The gel toothpaste comes in different flavors, like fruit burst or bubblegum, and the different tubes have photos if different characters kids already know and trust.
Since it’s not for children under two years of age, it’s not recommended to put too much on a toothbrush in order to prevent any swallowing, which can be difficult, but would also help your toddler learn future dental hygiene habits.
- Child Age Range: Kid’s Crest Pro-Health Stages toothpaste is for toddlers and children ages two and up.
- Where To Buy: It can be found online on Amazon or in-store at Walmart or Target.
- The Best Part: It’s not only gentle on enamel, but Kid’s Crest Pro-Health Stages is also a strong toddler toothpaste for cavity protection.
- The Not So Great: Since it’s not fluoride-free, it’s important to make sure your toddler doesn’t swallow the toothpaste while brushing.
- Price: Crest Pro-Health Stages Finding Dory Toothpaste for Kids (for children and toddlers age 2+), 4.2 Ounce.
4. Hello Oral Care Kids Fluoride Free
Designed for pretty much anyone of age to use, the Hello Oral Care Kids Fluoride Free toothpaste is made with zero sweeteners, artificial flavors, dyes, parabens or gluten and works to remove plaque from teeth, brighten them, and generally freshen the breath.
And since it also has a mild flavor, toddlers and kids will likely have zero complaints about the way it feels in their mouths. It’s also never tested on animals and the natural ingredients can give parents some peace of mind when it comes to what’s going on their children’s teeth.
- Child Age Range: According to the box, Hello Oral Care Kids Fluoride Free toothpaste is safe for all ages from children to adults.
- Where To Buy: You can find the toothpaste in-store at Target or Walmart, on the manufacturer’s website, or on Amazon.
- The Best Part: The flavor is mild enough, while still providing protection to your toddler’s teeth.
- The Not So Great: The cap isn’t very kid-friendly, leading some older toddlers or small children to need help as opposed to being able to learn to do it themselves.
- Price:
Hello Oral Care Kids$4.97 ($1.18 / Ounce)Check PriceWe earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.05/28/2023 11:17 am GMT
5. Tom’s of Maine Anticavity
Tom’s of Maine Anticavity toothpaste for children is one designed for toddlers to be able to use, but also strong enough to work hard on keeping their teeth and gums healthy. While using zero sweeteners, dyes, or artificial flavors, Tom’s of Maine Anticavity toothpaste for children uses calcium and silica to clean teeth gently each time.
It comes in both fruity and bubblegum flavors and since it’s made with more natural ingredients, the flavors are less likely to be too strong or unpleasant for toddlers. Both toddlers and school-aged children can use this one, making it another strong toothpaste to get use out of for several years as opposed to a couple of toddler years.
- Child Age Range: Tom’s of Maine Anticavity toothpaste for children is for kids ages two to six years old.
- Where To Buy: You can find it in-store at Target or Walgreens or online on Amazon.
- The Best Part: It not only cleans and freshens teeth, but it’s made to help in preventing cavities.
- The Not So Great: Some users might notice or complain of a chalky texture that can be unpleasant while trying to get a fresher tasting mouth.
- Price: Tom's of Maine Natural Children's Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, Silly Strawberry, 4.2 Ounce.
6. NUK Toddler Tooth and Gum Cleanser
For many parents, NUK is a brand that becomes familiar when raising a baby. Naturally for some, the next step is buying the NUK Toddler Tooth and Gum Cleanser when the time comes. Designed especially for toddlers, the toothpaste is fluoride-free and safe if swallowed.
It also sometimes comes with NUK’ three-sides finger brush to get all parts of your toddler’s teeth and gums that can sometimes be missed. With an apple-banana flavor, the toothpaste is gluten and dairy-free and also adds an approachable taste that some toddlers will enjoy.
- Child Age Range: NUK Toddler Tooth and Gum Cleanser is recommended for babies and children ages three months and up.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it in-store at Walgreens or Walmart or on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
- The Best Part: Most NUK toothpastes can be found in a set with either a toothbrush or three-sided finger brush, which are both added bonuses.
- The Not So Great: Since it can be used for babies and toddlers in the early stages of teeth, it might seem almost too gentle for older toddlers.
- Price: NUK Toddler Tooth and Gum Cleanser with Toothpaste, Colors May Vary,1 Set.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best toddler toothpaste for your child isn’t necessarily about the best value or price overall, since most are affordable while remaining beneficial to your little one’s dental health.
Instead, the important things to consider are what they offer in terms of cavity protection and in some cases, how long you’ll be able to utilize that one toddler toothpaste brand. If you have a picky two-year-old, switching to a new brand a year later might put a hiccup in teaching him or her how to brush their teeth.
And if you end up using a more baby-oriented one for several years, you’ll be faced with a toddler who would rather essentially suck the toothpaste off their brush for the mild fruity taste. The struggle is finding the perfect in-between and with some of these best toddler toothpaste choices, one is bound to do that for your family.