How to Choose the Right Toothpaste for Your Child
Parenting is tough. Everyday parents worry about making the right choices for their children to help them grow healthy and strong. From how much screen time to allow to providing healthy snacks, decision fatigue is a very real reality. Choosing the right toothpaste does NOT need to be one more decision in the highly demanding world of parenting.
However, with so many different types and brands of toothpaste available on the market today, it can be overwhelming to sort through the options. Do you need anti-plaque or anti-cavity? Should you choose whitening varieties for your family? Does charcoal toothpaste live up to the hype? What if my child has sensory sensitivities?
While this article may not answer every question, here are 5 tips to help you navigate the toothpaste aisle. Because choosing the right toothpaste for your child should not be one more item on your to do list to worry about.
Consider Your Dental Needs
The most important characteristic of toothpaste that you need to consider is: what are the needs of your child? Does your child have sensitive teeth? Do they have early signs of plaque build up or gum disease? It is helpful to first consider what their needs are so that you are able to choose a toothpaste to target those needs. Consult with your child’s pediatric dentist at his or her next appointment to help you weigh the pros and cons of each toothpaste and to make an educated decision.
Look for ADA Seal
When a toothpaste has the American Dental Association stamp of approval, that means the product has been evaluated for its safety and effectiveness by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. You should be looking for ADA approval on any dental product.
As we look at ingredients in toothpaste, the ADA developed the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale to quantify the abrasiveness of different toothpastes. In order for a toothpaste to earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance, it must have an RDA value that is low enough to be considered safe for lifelong use.
Check Ingredients
The ingredients list on toothpaste can be a bit mysterious. How do you know which ingredients are helpful and which to avoid?
Fluoride - The first ingredient to discuss is fluoride. When used properly, fluoride is both safe and beneficial to help prevent cavities in children’s teeth.
Abrasive Ingredients - Toothpastes typically contain abrasive ingredients to help scrub off food particles and dental plaque and to remove surface-level stains from children’s teeth. Common examples of such abrasive ingredients include calcium carbonate, silica gels and aluminum oxide. While abrasive ingredients are helpful for cleaning teeth, an overly abrasive toothpaste can be too harsh on a child’s dental enamel, wearing the enamel down over time. As mentioned above, if you check that the toothpaste carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, then you can rest assured that the toothpaste will not be too abrasive for your child.
Sweeteners - Have you ever wondered why children’s toothpastes taste so good? All those fun flavors are the result of a combination of natural and/or artificial flavorings plus sweeteners. The ADA does not allow any approved product to contain sugar, since cavity-causing bacteria love sugar. Instead, many toothpastes are sweetened with sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sorbitol, and xylitol. Xylitol in particular has been extensively studied over the last several decades with regards to its potential as a tooth-friendly sugar substitute. Discuss any questions or concerns related to additives or sweeteners with your child’s dentist.
Flavor - Often children are not a fan of strong mint toothpaste, or they may consider it “spicy”. Fortunately, there are many flavor options to choose from. After you narrow down the other factors that are important to you, allow your child to test the various flavor options at home and see what flavor appeals the most. It is important that your child enjoys the flavor to help encourage regular tooth brushing habits.
Ask Your Dentist
When in doubt, always go to the professionals. Your trusted pediatric dentist in Northwest Arkansas, Dr. Caple, and his team will be able to recommend a safe and appropriate choice for your child.
If you have additional questions regarding the right toothpaste for your child, please ask Dr. Caple at your child’s next dental appointment. Our mission is to provide the best pediatric dental care in Rogers, Arkansas, and for families across Northwest Arkansas. If you are looking for a pediatric dentist near you who is committed to partnering with you to establish a lifetime of healthy smiles for your child, call our office or request an appointment online today.