What type of toothpaste should I use on my toddler?
Pediatric dentists recommend fluoridated toothpaste, but if your child is still swallowing toothpaste, let him or her experiment with fluoride-free toothpaste.
Pediatric dentists generally recommend that parents clean their toddler's teeth with a tiny (less than pea-sized) amount of toothpaste with fluoride. If your toddler loves to brush but does not know how to rinse and spit, then we recommend giving your child his or her own toothbrush with some fluoride-free toothpaste to experiment with, and then you follow behind with the fluoridated toothpaste.
Ooh I think I might buy Theodent that someone mentioned below!
My 18 month old loves brushing her teeth but I Don worry about her swallowing the paste!! We use the “trainer” toothpaste, I believe it doesn’t have fluoride in it!
Exactly! Let her experiment using the fluoride – free “trainer” toothpaste then you brush her teeth with a tiny amount of fluoride containing toothpaste when she is done.
Great article! I was looking into which kind of toothpaste to get my two year old.
My toddler has had a lot of issues with caries and we have since switched to a toothpaste with xylitol two-three times a day. After brushing her teeth before bed, I brush on 3M ESPE Just For Kids 0.4% Stannous Fluoride Gel. Hopefully our next dental appointment we will get good news!
I just bought some recently, because he has a hard time spitting it out.
I am glad I found this article. I have been debating on what to use for my daughter’s teeth. Thank you for the information.
Glad it was helpful! Feel free to let us know if you have any additional questions.
Glad to get updated info for our Granddaughters. Thank you!
I don’t know how to teach my daughter to rinse…she does know how to spit but not the rinse and spit part. I would brush her teeth and ask her to spit. But if i tell her to put water in her mouth she would swallow it….
Thank you for great article . I have a 2 yr old who barely Lets me brush his teeth and I’ve tried for him to hold the brush or watching me brush my teeth etc. what are other tips I can try? And should I be giving him fluoridated water since he’s definitely not getting fluoride from brushing ?
Thank you
Liz Ticona
Love this! Learned not to let my daughter use toothpaste with fluoride! Thank you!
Is there any kind of floride toothpaste that you shouldn’t use?
You want the flavor to be palatable for a young child, so strong mint flavors might not work well. The key here is to use only a very small amount on the brush…the size of a grain of rice. Of course, prescription toothpastes are not appropriate.
My daughter is 21 months and we are nowhere near toothpaste with fluoride, she is all about snackin’ on that strawberry banana toothpaste 😉 I like to think that it’s balanced out with the fact that there is fluoride in our water.
My two year old still swallows her toothpaste and has no idea how to spit after she brushes so I still give her the baby toothpaste. She is almost three though and doesn’t seem any closer to learning to spit. Should I really start to push trying to teach her how? My almost five year old eventually just learned on her own but I don’t remember what age that was. 3.5 maybe.
I mix my son’s toothpaste- half kids toothpaste and half adults. This way its not as strong yet doesn’t taste good enough to swallow
That’s a great tip. My children’s dentist recommended using Tom’s of Maine toothpaste with fluoride because it comes in child-friendly flavors. And did you know that we should floss any teeth that are touching?
My daughter uses Tom’s in Silly Strawberry and loves it.
Thanks for this info! Been wondering about xylitol as well!
My dentist just recommended a toothpaste that is fluoride free, but has a natural ingredient ( a derivative of chocolate) that functions like fluoride. I am super excited about this!! I have read many articles about fluoride that scare me, but I also know that fluoride protects teeth and prevents cavities. I am so glad that I have found this product! I will warn you, it is expensive. I paid $10 for one regular sized tube at whole foods. Whole Foods is the only place in New Orleans that carries it, but of course you can get I online. It is called Theodent.
It’s so hard to get both my toddler and preschooler not to swallow the toothpaste! Is it really harming them if they swallow some?
Dr. Sara – I’d love to know your thoughts on Xylitol toothpaste – do you know if that is as good as fluoride?
I would love to know as well. I chew gum with Xylitol in it and notice it doesn’t affect my teeth the way sugar-free gum does!
Great question! According to Dr. Jason Wanuck, Pediatric Dentist, Xylitol has some excellent antibacterial properties. However, the amount needed to make a significant impact in improving dental health makes it a poor replacement for traditional fluoride toothpaste. One would have to brush many times a day with Xylitol to have the same benefit as twice daily brushing with fluoride. However, for older kids and adults who like to chew gum, Xylitol gum is a good additive to their regular oral health routine.
Thanks for the info! I just looked at my son’s and realized it had both xylitol and fluoride, so now I feel better!