Child Developement

Buying a safe to swallow toothpaste is essential to keeping your babies tiny teeth clean.

What to consider

Fluoride or fluoride free?

Although fluoride toothpaste is safe to use for babies, it can be strong for certain babies. Fluoride is necessary after 2 years to strengthen teeth.

Flavour

The taste of flavored toothpaste can make brushing easier and more appealing for your child. Avoid strong minty flavors and opt for a milder, natural flavor.

Age

Young children do spit out their toothpaste until the age of 3. Use a safe-to-swallow toothpaste before switching to a toddler toothpaste.

Paraben-free

Most baby toiletries are free from parabens, a kind of artificial preservative. Parabens have been found to contain properties similar to the female hormone estrogen. Although some issues have been found on animals, parabens have not been known to affect humans.

Sulfate-free

Sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are widely found in cosmetic products. Although SLS and SLES are approved for use, some parents believe they have adverse health effects and prefer more natural products. According to the American Cancer Association, there is no evidence of SLS/SLES being a carcinogen.

Popular brands		NUK	Jack N Jill	Colgate	Kodomo	Tom's Of Maine	Aquafresh	Babyganics	Dr. Brown's
Product Image
Model		Fluoride-free Tooth and Gum Cleanser	Organic Toothpaste	My First Toothpaste	Children's Toothpaste	Natural Children's Toothpaste	First Teeth	Fluoride Free Toothpaste	Natural Baby Toothpaste
Free from		Dairy, gluten	Sulfates, sugar, preservatives, artificial colors, gluten	Artificial colors, preservates, sulfates	Sugar	Dyes, artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, sweeteners	Artificial colors, preservatives	Sulfates, parabens, gluten, artificial colors	Artificial color and preservatives
Fluoride free		Yes	Yes	Both versions available	No	Both versions available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Flavour		Apple & banana	Blackcurrant, blueberry, banana, raspberry, strawberry, natural	Mild fruit	Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Apple	Strawberry, Orange & Mango	Apple & Banana Flavor	Watermelon, Strawberry	Pear & Apple
Age		3 months +	Unspecified	0-2 years	6+ months	Unspecified	3-24 months	Teething onwards	0-3 years
Price		5.1 (40g)	15 (50g)	4.2 (45g)	2.7 (80g)	4.9 (119g)	13.8 (42.5g)	13.9 (130g)	16.9 (40g)
Where to buy		iHerb	Mothercare	Kiwi kitchen	Guardian	iHerb	Redmart	Agape Babies	Redmart

Tips

• Use a rice-grain amount of toothpaste to clean babies teeth for the first three years, then use a pea-sized amount.
• Visit a dentist at least once by the time your baby is one year old.
• Encourage your child to spit up toothpaste. Although swallowing tiny amounts is safe, this helps them develop good habits.
• If your child cries often when brushing their teeth or gets fussy, try changing toothpaste brand and flavor.  
• Sugary food causes teeth decay in babies, avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle or feeding them sugary liquids.