Kids toothpaste (fruit flavors etc.)
A different flavor can change how much they resist. Check the age range and amount on the package.
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Toddler toothpaste: how much to use, fluoride, and how to choose one
Once your toddler has a few teeth, the toothpaste aisle can feel confusing: fluoride or no fluoride, how much to use, which flavor, and what to do when your child just eats it.
This guide covers how to choose a toddler toothpaste, how much to put on the brush, and a few tips for making it part of a calm brushing routine. Numbers here are general guidance, so check with your child’s dentist or doctor about what fits your child.
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Quick answer: what to look for in a toddler toothpaste
A grown-up should put the toothpaste on the brush. Toddlers tend to squeeze out far more than they need.
- An age range on the package that includes your child
- Fluoride information on the label, so you can follow your dentist’s advice
- A mild flavor your toddler accepts (fruit flavors are common)
- Low foam, so it is easier for a toddler who cannot spit well yet
- A tube a grown-up can squeeze in tiny amounts
Kids toothbrush (favorite character or color)
Picking it themselves makes brushing “their own thing”. Choose a head size that suits their age.
How much toothpaste for a toddler?
US dental and pediatric groups commonly suggest these amounts of fluoride toothpaste:
- From the first tooth to age 3: a smear about the size of a grain of rice
- Ages 3 to 6: a pea-size amount
Fluoride or fluoride-free?
Many dentists recommend fluoride toothpaste from the first tooth, in the small amounts above. Some families choose a fluoride-free “training” toothpaste for a while, especially when a child swallows everything.
This is a good question to bring to a checkup. Your child’s dentist can look at your child’s teeth and tell you which type and amount fit right now.
When your toddler hates the taste or swallows it
In our family, our child loves rinsing, and having a favorite cup made the end of brushing something to look forward to. Practicing swishing and spitting with water also makes the switch to a pea-size amount easier later.
- Try a different flavor, or a milder one with less mint
- Start with less than the usual amount and build up
- Practice spitting with a little water after brushing, like a game
- Let your toddler “brush” a doll or stuffed animal first
- Keep the tube out of reach so it is only used with a grown-up
Kids’ rinse cup
Easy for small hands, in a color or pattern your child likes. A favorite cup makes rinsing something to look forward to.
Ask your dentist
Every child is different. Bring your toddler’s toothpaste to the next checkup and ask whether the amount, fluoride and flavor are right for this age.
Turn brushing into an island adventure
Hamigaki Island is a kids app: during a two-minute brushing adventure, a boat sails around six islands, and lost baby teeth open new places to explore.
See brushing goods by worry →