There are so many options for the best baby toothpaste in the UK, where do you even start? And when you start to look at kids' toothpaste for children of different ages, things don’t get any easier.
Here, we’ll give you the information you need to choose the best toothpaste for kids and babies in the UK, plus we have some product recommendations.
With lots of things you want to get right, we're here to help. In this article, we'll cover:
- What makes a good toothpaste for your baby
- Whether you should use fluoride-free toothpaste for babies
- The best toothpaste for kids and babies of all ages
Getting your kids' dental routine right from the start is important for their overall oral hygiene. We have another article about choosing the best toothbrush for your child and a detailed guide on how to prevent childhood tooth decay, which you might also find useful.
But, for now, let's look at kids' toothpaste!
Here is a quick reference guide to some of our top picks for the best children's toothpaste in the UK. Keep reading to find out about these and other toothpaste for babies and children.
In This Article
- 1 What are the best baby and toddler toothpastes in the UK (0-2 years)?
- 2 What's the best toothpaste for kids aged 3-6?
- 3 The best kids' toothpaste for ages 7 and up
- 4 Buying guide: choose the best toothpaste for babies and children
- 5 Is the best toothpaste for kids different to adult toothpaste?
- 6 Can I Get a Kids' Toothpaste Dispenser?
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 FAQs
What are the best baby and toddler toothpastes in the UK (0-2 years)?
As soon as your little one's first teeth appear, it's important to brush them twice a day to protect against decay. However, it can be hard to know which baby and toddler toothpastes are the best.
There are certain things to look for in toothpaste for babies under 2 years, and below we've picked out some of the best options to make that choice easier for you.
Aquafresh Milk Teeth toothpaste
This Aquafresh baby toothpaste has a fluoride level of 1000 ppm, which matches the official guidelines on what to use. The toothpaste has a light minty flavour and there are no artificial flavours colours or flavours.
One Amazon reviewer said of this baby toothpaste, “Excellent baby toothpaste. Baby likes it and readily allows his teeth to be brushed. It is safe, has no minty or tangy toothpaste taste and would also last long.”
Natural baby toothpaste
Green People make organic baby toothpaste without fluoride. If you're looking for a children's toothpaste that's safe to swallow their formulation is non-toxic.
So, there shouldn't be any concerns if your baby has a habit of swallowing whilst you help them brush their teeth. Plus, the orangey taste is great for little ones who don't like mint.
One happy mother commented in her Amazon review, “…my little boy loves the taste. He's used it since his first tooth around 6 months and still likes chewing on his toothbrush with this on it now aged 18 months. I don't have to worry about him swallowing it as it's natural and non-toxic.”
This organic toothpaste is suitable for babies and children of all ages so there's no need to switch once they reach 3 years old.
Colgate baby toothpaste
As part of their Smiles range, Colgate has their Smiles Baby 0-2 Years toothpaste. This has the recommended level of fluoride at 1000 ppm and a mild flavour for your baby's sensitive mouth.
Weleda baby toothpaste
Weleda is a Swiss company that makes plant-based health and well-being products. Their fluoride-free toothpaste for babies and kids has a spearmint flavour and all non-toxic ingredients, so it shouldn't be anything to worry about if your baby swallows it.
The packaging may not be particularly child-friendly, but plenty of people say this is their favourite natural baby and toddler toothpaste.
What's the best toothpaste for kids aged 3-6?
They might not like the minty flavours you're used to with your toothpaste, so we've included some non-mint children's toothpaste options, but the best toothpaste is one formulated for kids.
As your child gets older, the chances of them swallowing toothpaste will reduce. At this age, you should still supervise them as they brush and help them learn how to brush thoroughly.
Colgate kids' toothpaste
Colgate Kids Cavity Protection Toothpaste has a fruity, bubble gum flavour – great for kids who aren't into minty tastes.
A more premium Colgate children's toothpaste option is their liquid gel toothpaste, which contains 1100 ppm fluoride to protect against cavities. The strawberry and watermelon flavours with bright and funky packaging should also help make brushing fun.
Aquafresh children's toothpaste
Aquafresh Little Teeth Toothpaste has 1450 ppm fluoride and a slightly minty flavour. The red, white and blue stripes add a fun touch to brushing. It's aimed at children aged 3-5 but is fine for older kids too thanks to the higher fluoride concentration.
It gets high praise from one reviewer: “My eight-year son will only use this! Loves taste, very fussy with his teeth! Tried others and he won't touch them because of the taste! Good toothpaste and great reviews from his dentist too!”
AloeDent children's toothpaste
AloeDent makes a fluoride-free children's toothpaste in a tantalising strawberry flavour. It's vegetarian and vegan friendly and uses tea tree oil as a natural antiseptic in the formula.
Brush Baby toothpaste
Yet more non-mint children's toothpaste options are available, with Brush-Baby Tutti Frutti Toothpaste for 3-6 year-olds.
Their toothpaste contains 1350 ppm of fluoride but is SLS-free as well as vegetarian and vegan-friendly. This makes it a good option for parents who want the benefits of fluoride but prefer to avoid certain other ingredients.
The best kids' toothpaste for ages 7 and up
Once your child is seven years old, they should have developed complete control over their reflex to swallow (as well as the motor skills to brush correctly) and at this point, you should be able to leave them to brush their teeth on their own.
While it is fine for them to use a pea-sized amount of adult toothpaste at this age, they may still prefer toothpaste for kids.
Aquafresh has a third tier in their children's toothpaste range suited to 6-8 year-olds with a mixture of baby and adult teeth. It's specially formulated to offer extra protection when new adult teeth are more vulnerable.
There is also character-branded toothpaste available that will probably be more appealing than the standard packaging of grown-up toothpaste. For instance, this Oral B kids' toothpaste has Frozen characters on the tube, making it a popular choice among many children.
Children this age may still not be keen on the minty flavours in most adult toothpaste. A good option if this is the case is OraNurse Unflavoured Toothpaste. It has 1450 ppm of fluoride which is well within the guideline levels for children of this age, and there shouldn't be any complaints about the taste.
Buying guide: choose the best toothpaste for babies and children
The NHS in the UK, as well as the leading dental association in the USA (the ADA), both recommend using fluoride kids and baby toothpastes, but check how much fluoride is in the kids' toothpaste you choose. The recommended amounts balance effectiveness with safety.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that is present in water, soil, and the air. It has many benefits for your teeth, such as:
- Preventing dental cavities
- Strengthening tooth enamel
- Reversing early stages of tooth decay
- Limiting plaque bacteria in the mouth
- Slowing mineral loss in tooth enamel
A dental visit is recommended for a baby when they develop a tooth in the oral cavity which will be around the age of 6 months.
Baby teeth should be cared for as you would for an adult tooth because these teeth will eventually give way for the permanent tooth to erupt. The premature loss of a baby tooth can result in the drifting of the other teeth into the space resulting in alignment issues for the adult tooth.
The most common cause of loss of a baby tooth is decay followed by trauma, so it is advisable to use fluoride toothpaste.
There is a type of decay called nursing bottle caries that is caused by children sleeping with bottles of milk or juice. Nursing caries only tends to affect the upper front teeth.
Make those sleepless nights count by making sure to care for your baby’s dental health as milk teeth are equally important as adult teeth.
Dr Asha Ramesh
Here is a breakdown of the recommended amount of fluoride for child and baby toothpastes. The measure of fluoride is parts per million, or ppm, and this is the key number to look for on the tube.
Age | Fluoride concentration | Amount to use |
Children under 3 | At least 1000ppm | A smear |
Children 3-6 | At least 1000ppm | A pea-sized amount |
Children over 6 and adults | 1350ppm – 1500ppm | A pea-sized amount |
As well as being recommended by the NHS, these amounts have been proven safe by a scientific study that looked at the data from lots of other studies.
That said, children still shouldn't swallow fluoride toothpaste. While occasionally swallowing a small amount while brushing teeth is unlikely to cause any harm, regularly consuming high volumes of fluoride can lead to a condition called fluorosis, where the teeth develop white spots or become discoloured.
Supervise brushing until your child is old enough to be able to brush all their teeth correctly and spit out all the toothpaste – usually around age 6 or 7.
If children ingest a larger amount of fluoride toothpaste, for example, if they deliberately eat it from the tube, they might experience an upset stomach. If this happens, it is best to speak to your doctor or call 111 immediately.
What about baby toothpaste with fluoride?
It's natural to be concerned about your young baby swallowing baby toothpaste, whether it contains fluoride or not. Most children develop their spit reflex around the age of three years old, so your baby won't be able to brush their teeth like you quite yet.
Minimise the risk by only using a smear of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, when you first start brushing your baby's teeth. Parents who are really concerned about controlling how much fluoride their child swallows can opt for fluoride-free toothpaste.
The video below has some good advice for brushing your baby or toddler's teeth – even when they aren't in the mood for it!
Is the best toothpaste for kids different to adult toothpaste?
One of the key differences between toothpaste for kids and adults is the fluoride content. Aside from that, adult toothpaste might also be more abrasive and have stronger flavours.
You can read about the best toothpaste options for adults in our dedicated guide.
Lots of adults use whitening toothpaste, but using whitening toothpaste for kids isn't a good idea. These types of toothpaste are rougher on the teeth and could damage children's teeth because their enamel is thinner.
If your child has stained teeth, assess their diet for strongly coloured foods and speak with their dentist if you're concerned. Any whitening treatments should only be carried out once your child has a full mouth of adult teeth.
Can I Get a Kids' Toothpaste Dispenser?
Once you've got a brightly coloured brush and a tasty flavoured kids' toothpaste, you should be well on your way to getting your children excited about their oral hygiene. To add the finishing touch, you can consider a kids' toothpaste dispenser.
This toothpaste dispenser is really practical for your kids and the rest of the family. It has:
- Space for two different kinds of toothpaste – great if your kids like different flavours to you
- A clock to help kids time their brushing and get those good habits formed early on
- Storage for five brushes – plenty of space for all the family
“WOW, an amazing product that encourages children of a young age to start cleaning their teeth by themselves. Extremely easy to clean as the majority of pieces come apart to clean and are easy to re-assemble. A fantastic product for any bathroom, highly recommend,” enthused a recent reviewer on Amazon.
Conclusion
Every parent wants the best for their child's teeth, and choosing the best baby or kids' toothpaste for your little one is important. Although it's perfectly understandable that you'll want to investigate fluoride-free toothpaste for your kids, scientists and dentists agree that fluoride is beneficial to teeth and shouldn't cause any harm if used correctly.
Make sure that you help your children use their toothpaste properly until they're old enough to look after their teeth themselves. By choosing flavours that they like, you will keep them wanting to brush; and by picking the right fluoride levels you'll make sure they protect themselves from cavities whilst waiting for their adult teeth to come through.
It's also important to take your child for regular dental checkups as soon as their first tooth appears. This lets the dentist monitor their oral health and identify any problems early on. Treatments like fluoride varnish and fissure sealant can help further protect children's teeth from decay.
FAQs
What age should my baby start using toothpaste?
You should start using toothpaste on your baby's teeth as soon as they start to come in. However, it is recommended to use only a small amount of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice.
What should I look for when choosing a baby toothpaste?
When choosing a toothpaste for your baby, it's important to look for a toothpaste (preferably with fluoride) that is safe to swallow and specifically formulated for babies.
Is fluoride safe for babies?
Fluoride is safe for babies, but it's important to use it in the right amount. Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis, a condition that affects the appearance of the teeth.
Can I use regular toothpaste for my baby?
No, regular toothpaste is not recommended for babies as it contains too much fluoride and can be harmful if swallowed. It's important to use toothpaste that is specifically formulated for babies
What are some of the best baby toothpaste brands available in the UK?
Some of the best baby toothpaste brands available in the UK include Aquafresh Milk Teeth Toothpaste, Colgate Kids Toothpaste, and Brush-Baby Baby & Toddler Toothpaste.
NHS: Fluoride. Consulted 1st March 2023.
Healthline: Should You Be Worried About Fluoride Toothpaste? Consulted 1st March 2023.
ADA: Oral Health Topics: Toothpaste. Consulted 1st March 2023.
NCBI: Fluoride toothpaste efficacy and safety in children younger than 6 years: a systematic review. Consulted 1st March 2023.