Picking Toothpaste for Your Kids

When picking toothpaste for your kids, it is important to find one that they will actually want to use. In our dental office, there are several factors that we recommend taking into consideration for health reasons. However, ultimately, the most important thing is to find a toothpaste that children enjoy and will use without complaint.

Otherwise, they are unlikely to brush their teeth for a full two minutes and may try to refuse to brush them at all. Starting a fight over toothpaste flavor is counterproductive so sometimes, parents may need to buy a few different types.

Things to consider when picking toothpaste for your kids

For health reasons, we recommend that parents purchase toothpaste containing fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that when placed on the teeth will help to strengthen the enamel. When the enamel is strong, teeth are less likely to suffer from dental decay or to become cracked or chipped. They are also unlikely to become sensitive to heat and cold.

Unfortunately, rigorous brushing, exposure to acidic foods and drinks and poor dietary habits can often lead to enamel erosion. This increases the likelihood of a child developing tooth problems. To combat this, we recommend brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice per day.

There is no need to get whitening toothpaste

Avoid whitening toothpaste. There is no need to brush a child's teeth with whitening toothpaste. Some brands are abrasive and this could lead to tooth sensitivity. Plus, the flavor can be intense, making children not want to use it. It is far better to stick with basic children's fluoride toothpaste. Keep in mind that the toothpaste does not need to have an intense mint flavor to be effective at cleaning the teeth and gums.

Even though children's toothpaste can come in fun colors and a variety of flavors, it still does just as good of a job cleaning teeth as standard adult toothpaste. As long as it contains fluoride, teeth will benefit just as much from the kid's toothpaste that they would an adult toothpaste. The biggest difference will be that children will prefer to use toothpaste that is fun or tastes good.

Where to find it

When picking toothpaste for kids, it helps to go to a drugstore or a large chain like Walmart. Parents will find a wide variety of options to choose from. In some cases, the more options, the better. More options will allow a child to select their flavor and even color of toothpaste.

If a child participates in the process, they will be less likely to complain about the toothpaste when using it. Also, children may get excited about selecting a toothbrush to go with it. We recommend replacing toothbrushes every three months or so, so it is a good idea to take children to the store when buying toothpaste.

Remember to bring children to our dental office

Starting a good oral hygiene routine at home is important, as is picking a toothpaste for kids. Just remember that at-home brushing and flossing is only part of the process. To truly maintain healthy teeth and gums it is important to schedule an appointment and bring children to our dental office twice per year.

This allows us to clean their teeth, prevent decay and treat any problems as they arise. To schedule an appointment for your child, call our office today.

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