The Best Baby and Toddler Toothbrushes, According to a Pediatric Dentist

Updated on
October 4, 2024

Baby Health

The Best Baby and Toddler Toothbrushes, According to a Pediatric Dentist

Your baby grew some teeth!...Now what?

By Kristina Svensson DDS | Fact Checked by Amylia Ryan

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The Best Baby and Toddler Toothbrushes, According to a Pediatric Dentist.

Editor’s note: As a board-certified pediatric dentist and mom of three, Dr. Kristina Svensson understands the importance of taking care of baby’s teeth—and the struggle, too. To help you make sure your baby has good oral hygiene (and that you’re not super stressed out in the process), here are her favorite toothbrushes and toothpastes for babies and toddlers, plus expert advice on brushing and taking baby to the dentist.

Congratulations! After months of teething symptoms, your baby’s first little teeth are here! You’re hoping for some reprieve from teething symptoms, but you might also be wondering, what do I need to do to keep these new teeth healthy?

You may not know this, but baby teeth need just as much care as adult teeth; even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, keeping them clean and healthy can prevent future issues like gum disease and tooth decay, which can lead to infections and overall health issues. The good news is that if you know how to take care of your own adult teeth, then you know how to take care of baby teeth too:

Brush baby’s teeth in the morning and before sleep.
Focus on their gumline and lift their upper lip to brush under it.
Floss wherever their teeth are touching each other.
Avoid letting your baby graze and snack throughout the day.
Don’t give your baby any more food or drinks (except water) after brushing at night.

The Best Toothbrushes for Babies

These are great because kids can easily grip them with their hands. This is the one type of toothbrush I let my toddler play with any time he wants without direct supervision. And the textured handle makes a great teething toy!

Jordan Step 1 Baby Toothbrush, 4-Pack

$8.90

This one is extra great if your child has a really hard time with brushing. This toothbrush brushes all the sides of the teeth at the same time. I really love this particular brand of 3-sided brush because I’ve noticed that similarly designed brushes don’t typically reach the gumline, and that’s where most of the cavity-causing plaque hangs out. This one is also great for kids who have special needs, oral aversions or a strong gag reflex.

Dr. Barman's Triple Head Super Brush

$8.59

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8.59

The soft compact brush head gets the job done! Since it’s made by Colgate, you can find these in just about any drugstore—and at less than $3 each, they’re a great bargain.

Colgate My First Baby and Toddler Toothbrush Extra Soft, 2-Pack

$5.59

The Best Toothbrushes for Toddlers

I like how small the head is for this brush, which makes it easier to brush on the tongue side of the teeth. It also works well to get under the lip to brush the front teeth for babies that open really big or curl their upper lip to cover their front teeth. There are also good toothbrush options made of bio-based plastics and flossers made of biorenewable resources.

TePe Kids Compact Size Brush Head

$2.74

This toothbrush from long-time favorite dental brand Oral-B has super soft bristles, and the toothbrush head is nice and rounded. It works really well to brush the gums around the molars in the back.

Oral-B Baby Soft Bristle Toothbrush

$3.20

This fun and cute toothbrush comes shaped like a dino or a flamingo, and the soft bristles and easy-grip ergonomic handle makes it a perfect choice for older toddlers learning to brush their own teeth.

Dr. Brown's Toddler Toothbrush with Soft Bristles, 2-pack

$7.99

This dentist-designed toothbrush has super soft bristles and comes from the creators of Cocofloss. (I already loved Cocofloss because it’s so effective at removing plaque, and their brush didn’t disappoint.)

Cocofloss Cocobrush

$10.00

Do babies need their teeth brushed?

Why do we even brush babies’ teeth? The goal of brushing is to remove the plaque made of food, bacteria, and bacteria byproducts that build up on teeth. If plaque stays in one spot long enough, it becomes more acidic, and it’ll slowly melt the minerals out of a tooth.

If plaque isn’t removed, the tooth will eventually get so soft that it crumbles away and is left with a hole—that’s where cavities and tooth decay come from, and if left untreated, they could lead to infection. Pediatric dentists are big fans of preventing cavities from a young age, because it can be quite tricky to do fillings for younger children. Dental decay is a preventable disease, but once you have cavities, it can be very costly to treat.

If you’re ever curious about how much plaque you’re removing, you can always try this experiment for yourself or your child: chew up a disclosing tablet that stains the plaque on your teeth pink, and see what it takes to make your teeth white again.

What to look for in baby toothbrushes

There are a few things to look for and a few things to skip when you’re buying oral healthcare products for kids under three years old.

PICK: Any soft-bristled toothbrush, including manual brushes and electric brushes.

PICK: A product with the American Dental Association seal of approval.

SKIP: A silicone brush or finger brush, unless you’re using it as a teether. They’re fun for teething toys or playing with because they feel good on gums, but once teeth erupt, our goal is to remove the sticky plaque and biofilm. The silicone bristles on finger toothbrushes are so soft, I always picture them as gently petting the germs on the head and saying, “Nice little germ, you can keep living here.” Would you brush your own teeth with a silicone toothbrush? Probably not. So stick with a traditional toothbrush for your kiddos.

SKIP: The U-shaped retainer-style brushes that advertise exceptional cleaning of all your teeth at the same time just by biting on a mouthpiece. A randomized controlled trial from June 2020 showed that there was no statistically significant difference between not brushing your teeth and using a U-shaped brush. However, there was a significant difference between using a regular manual or electric toothbrush and the U-shaped brush.

The Best Toothpastes for Babies and Toddlers

hello Dragon Dazzle Blue Raspberry Fluoride Toothpaste - $4.99.

I like the Hello brand because it doesn’t have sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which is a tissue-irritating foaming agent. Having a less foamy toothpaste can be easier for kids, especially if they have a stuffy nose, sensitive gag reflex or mostly breathe through their mouth. My five- and seven-year-olds like the minty flavor, and many of my patients love the Unicorn Sparkle flavor—it has sparkles!

Keep in mind: You only need one small tube because it’s going to last a long time!

hello Dragon Dazzle Blue Raspberry Fluoride Toothpaste

$4.99

This mild flavored toothpaste is great for the picky kids who don’t like all the other flavors. The top flavor choices are chocolate and vanilla. Tanner’s Tasty Paste was created by a pediatric dentist mom and doesn’t have foaming agents.

Tanner's Tasty Paste Cha Cha Chocolate Anticavity Fluoride Children’s Toothpaste

$8.49

This toothpaste is for kids who just don’t like flavors. Also if your child loves the flavor of their training toothpaste, you can mix in a little unflavored to get the benefit of fluoride without changing the flavor they’re used to.

Dr. Bob Unflavored Dye-Free Toothpaste

$9.99

The Silly Strawberry flavor is a favorite. But please be aware, the fluoride-free one looks really similar, so be sure to pay close attention to what’s on the packaging.

Tom's Of Maine Silly Strawberry Children's Anticavity Toothpaste

$4.99

Do babies and toddlers need toothpaste?

Now that you know why you should be brushing your baby’s teeth, what about toothpaste? And what type of toothpaste is best for babies and toddlers?

The actual purpose of toothpaste may not be exactly what you think. We know cavities are caused by plaque sitting on the teeth too long, but does toothpaste help remove plaque? Nope. Brushing and flossing are what do it.

So what does toothpaste do? Fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste, is actually a naturally occurring mineral that strengthens the teeth on a microscopic level. Toothpaste with fluoride is allowed to be marketed as “anti-cavity” toothpaste because it makes teeth stronger and restores enamel.

But consuming too much fluoride can cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, so fluoride toothpaste should be treated like a medicine (especially since it has a tendency to taste pretty good). You don’t want your child to eat too much toothpaste, but a tiny amount is beneficial for children of all ages with teeth. Keep it out of reach, and make sure the grownup is in charge of its dispensing and application.

How much toothpaste should my child use?

The main thing to consider is whether or not your child can spit every time. For babies and toddlers, or any age child who doesn’t spit predictably, it’s recommended to use only a drop of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain.

If your child spits predictably every time, you can use up to a pea-sized amount.

You don’t need more than that, even as a grownup. But toothpaste companies like to sell more toothpaste, so they encourage you to use more!

Should I give my baby fluoride-free toothpaste?

There are two types of toothpaste: fluoride and fluoride-free. Fluoride toothpaste is the only kind that will help strengthen teeth, but there are a few reasons why fluoride-free toothpaste (also called training toothpaste) can still be valuable:

Your child can safely swallow more of it.
It gets you more time with the brush in their mouth because they love the flavor.
Your child who doesn’t spit yet wants to brush their own teeth, so you give them the non-fluoride toothpaste when it’s their turn to brush.
Your child just sucks out the toothpaste before it even touches their teeth.

Even with a training toothpaste, I recommend that a parent brush with a rice grain-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste afterwards.

I recommend two types of fluoride-free toothpastes: toothpaste with baking soda or with hydroxyapatite. Baking soda counteracts the harmful acidity created by bacteria and snacks, helping neutralize the mouth's pH. When the mouth is less acidic, the teeth minerals melt less. So baking soda toothpaste won’t make teeth stronger, but it can help reduce enamel loss.

The other type is a hydroxyapatite-containing toothpaste like Risewell or Boka Kids. This is a relatively new type of toothpaste for the American market, so more research is needed to determine its effectiveness. Hydroxyapatite is a form of the minerals that teeth are made of, so this might also help restore some of the lost tooth enamel after a day of eating.

What to expect at baby’s first dentist appointment

Just like grownups, children benefit from going to the dentist every six months. The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend the first visit by 12 months of age (or as soon as the first teeth show up).

This visit is generally a conversation with the caregivers to determine what the child’s risk for decay is, and to encourage you to modify behaviors if necessary for a better oral hygiene routine and diet. The discussion is followed by an oral exam, cleaning and preventive fluoride treatment.

And don’t worry if your child cries! That means their mouth is open and we can check their teeth very quickly (wink). If your baby or toddler cries during their dental exam, it’s perfectly age-appropriate behavior and does not reflect on you as a parent or caregiver. Many little ones are scared of strangers, and our protective equipment (mask, face shield, goggles) doesn’t help!

Some kids are also worried about getting shots in healthcare settings. All this is 100% normal! Rest assured that your child is safe and cared for, and we’re helping you keep their teeth healthy. In general, once kids turn four years old or start preschool, they’re fine with all our stuff—and if they’ve been coming twice a year, they’ve learned they don’t get shots and nothing hurts.

Remember, first visit by age one or first tooth. We love seeing babies (even if they don’t always love seeing us)!

Kristina Svensson

Pediatric Dentist, DDS

Dr. Kristina Svensson is a board-certified pediatric dentist and mom of three working in clinical practice and teaching in San Francisco. Her mission is to demystify oral health care and provide actionable, evidence-based strategies to reduce your child’s risk for developing cavities. In her free time she enjoys weaving, drawing and making stop motion LEGO videos with her kids. After many years as an over-achieving non-parent, she now firmly believes that practice makes progress (not perfect) and reminds herself on a daily basis that she is a good enough mom.

This information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. We do not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Babylist may earn compensation from affiliate links in this content. Learn more about how we write Babylist content and review products, as well as the Babylist Health Advisory Board.

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