Brushing your teeth is an essential part of personal hygiene, and it’s every bit as important for kids as they build strong enamel and healthy teeth. But what are the active ingredients in kids toothpastes, and how might you evaluate fluoride vs non-fluoride options for your kiddos?
Read about the ingredients in kids toothpastes, if those fruity flavors might contain artificial dyes or flavors, and whether you should consider toothpaste with or without sodium lauryl sulfate.
How to Choose a Kids Toothpaste
Consider these six factors when choosing toothpaste for your child. Most importantly, you want to choose an option your child will like, and one that encourages them to brush their teeth consistently:
1. Taste
Your child might prefer a toothpaste with a fruity flavor, like Orajel™ Kids PAW Patrol™ Anticavity Toothpaste in natural Fruity Bubble flavor. These sweeter, more familiar flavors are less “spicy” than minty flavors, and your child may enjoy them more. You want them to keep brushing for two minutes, so a flavor they like can encourage this good habit!
However, if your kid takes an interest in your toothpaste, you can certainly opt for an adult fluoride formula! Kids can use fluoride toothpastes, if pediatrician recommends, so long as they are exhibiting proper brushing techniques, including rinsing habits, and with adult supervision while using.
2. Ingredients
Take a look at ingredient labels so you can choose a kids toothpaste that has what you want and is free of ingredients you want to avoid. For example, some toothpastes may contain artificial dyes or flavors. Orajel™ Kids Anticavity Toothpastes have 99% naturally sourced ingredients and are free of artificial sweeteners, colors, or dyes, and also do not contain any sugar, aspartame, parabens, silicones, alcohol, gluten, dairy, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)! Also look at the ingredients to see whether a kids toothpaste contains fluoride to help prevent cavities.
3. Character Connection
If you’re introducing your youngster to brushing, invite some character connection! For the youngest brushers, Orajel™ Kids has training toothpastes in familiar flavors like Banana Apple and Fruity Fun, featuring toddler favorite characters such as CoComelon™, Sesame Street™, and PAW Patrol™.
School-age kids tastes change – in both flavors and favorites. Level up with Orajel™ Kids Magical Unicorn/Mermaid Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste in a Natural Very Berry Strawberry flavor or Orajel™ Kids Jurassic World™ Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste in Natural Berry Blast flavor.
Continue connecting with new character friends with Orajel™ Kids Miraculous™ Ladybug™ or Orajel™ Kids Karma’s World™ Anticavity Fluoride Toothpastes. They come in Natural Fruity Burst and Natural Bubblegum Beats flavors your little ones are sure to enjoy.
Orajel™ knows the relationship with brushing needs to be fostered. Letting your child pick a toothpaste or toothbrush that they associate with a show or character they love is a creative way to get them to brush on a regular basis! Plus, we update our character connections so your kids can stay in touch with their passions!
4. Availability
When your child has a favorite toothpaste, you want to keep using it. Although you can find many kids toothpaste formulas at your local store or online, take into account how easy it is to get them. Consider buying a spare tube or buying a bulk package of your favorite kids toothpaste so you don’t have to worry about running out or having to switch at the last minute.
5. Cost
Cost is another factor when choosing a toothpaste for your kiddo. Different formulas may have different price points depending on the ingredients and packaging. Similarly, prices may vary depending on whether you’re buying an individual tube or a bundle.
6. Packaging
Kids toothpastes come in pumps and tubes, some with flip-top caps and others with removable ones. How your child uses the toothpaste can be a factor in which packaging you choose. Can they squeeze the tube or press the pump themselves, or are you dispensing it for them? Do you want to prevent the very real possibility of too much toothpaste being squeezed into the sink – or counter or mirror?
If you’re considering an automated wall-mounted toothpaste dispenser that releases the proper amount of toothpaste every time you brush, check to see what size toothpaste tubes will fit and buy the packaging that works for your needs.
What are the Types of Kids Toothpaste?
Kids toothpastes are not universal. They may come in formats designed for different ages or stages in your child’s development, such as for babies, toddlers, and school-age kids. They also might be considered a “training toothpaste” that does not contain fluoride, and there are other fluoride vs non-fluoride toothpastes available for children.
But that begs the question: is fluoride really a necessary active ingredient in kids toothpaste?
Why Is Fluoride in Toothpaste?
Fluoride is an essential ingredient in most toothpastes because it helps strengthen enamel and helps prevent tooth decay. All toothpastes approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) contain fluoride.
Fluoride is a beneficial toothpaste ingredient for people of all ages, but it’s especially important for your kids to brush with fluoride because it helps guard against cavities. Still, you want to make sure they’re using the right amount of toothpaste.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends brushing your kid’s teeth with a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) when the first tooth appears. After the age of 2, the AAP suggests using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Using Fluoride vs. Non-Fluoride Toothpastes
You might wonder whether non-fluoride toothpaste may be preferable for your kids, so you don’t have to worry about them swallowing it. But while using a non-fluoride toothpaste might result in an equally fresh-feeling mouth, it’s not as effective in preventing tooth decay.
Toothpastes with fluoride reduce the tooth enamel demineralization process, which is the first step to tooth decay. In other words, using fluoride toothpastes helps prevent tooth decay in ways non-fluoride toothpastes do not.
If you’re worried about your child swallowing too much fluoride, make sure you’re instructing them on proper brushing habits and techniques. You can also check with your dentist about fluoride recommendations.
Ultimately, the choice of fluoride vs. non-fluoride is up to you as a parent. Regardless, Orajel™ has both options, including Orajel™ Kids Training Toothpastes that are the #1 pediatrician recommended fluoride-free toothpaste among those who recommend a brand.
What is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in Kids Toothpaste?
When it’s an ingredient in toothpaste, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) functions to create the foaming you see when you brush. It also helps to clean your teeth of food debris and dirt particles.
That said, some people who experience canker sores may be more sensitive to toothpastes with SLS, and that may include your child. If you or your child are susceptible to canker sores, for example, or just want to avoid SLS, you may want to consider a toothpaste that does not contain SLS.
All Orajel™ Kids training toothpastes and fluoride formulas are SLS-free and help clean teeth with consistent brushing!
What are the Other Ingredients in Kids Toothpastes?
Ingredients in Orajel™ Kids toothpastes may include:
- Sorbitol, derived from corn – this is a sugar-free sweetener to help the toothpaste taste good without sugar, which can cause cavities.
- Hydrated silica, a mineral – this mild abrasive is used to help scrub plaque and stains from your child’s teeth.
- Glycerin, from vegetables – this ingredient helps the toothpaste have a smooth texture and glide from the tube.
- Cellulose gum, from tree or cotton seed pulp – helps the toothpaste ingredients bond together into a thickened, smooth paste.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine, from coconuts – helps the toothpaste foam for an enjoyable brushing experience.
- Stevia, from stevia plant leaves – this is a nonfermentable sweetener, meaning it helps the toothpaste taste good but doesn’t lead to tooth decay.
Remember, 99% of the ingredients in Orajel™ Kids Anticavity Toothpastes are naturally sourced – the exception being the fluoride. Although fluoride is a mineral, it goes through an extraction process before being added to toothpaste. Meanwhile, 100% of the ingredients in Orajel™ Kids Training Toothpastes come from natural sources!
Enliven Your Kids’ Smiles with Orajel™ Kids Toothpastes
If you’re looking for a new toothpaste that can help protect your kids’ teeth against acids and strengthen their enamel, choose among any of the Orajel™ Kids Anticavity Toothpastes! They are free of SLS and artificial dyes, flavors, and sweeteners and come in a variety of fruity and bubbly flavors that will leave your children grinning from ear to ear.
