When I watch my toddler brush her teeth, I marvel at how self-sufficient she seems. Wasn't she just a baby like a second ago? While she certainly looks grown-up wielding a toothbrush, I know there some things we still need to work on. If she had her way, she'd be using quarter-size globs of toothpaste and swallowing most of it! That's why I did some research on the best toothpaste for toddlers. I wanted to make sure what I was buying was super safe, because even though I'm the one who squirts the toothpaste on the brush, things can get a little harried after that.
In addition to wondering what brands were best, I also had some questions about certain ingredients, like fluoride — is it helpful or harmful for young children? The American Dental Association (ADA) said yes to fluoride, for its ability to remove plaque and fight tooth decay, but recommended that you use it very sparingly. For children less than 3 years of age, the ADA advised using a fluoride toothpaste in "an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice," and for kids ages 3 to 6, use no more than the size of a pea.
With that said, here are 6 ADA-accepted toothpastes for children that you can feel good about.
