What Toothpaste Is Best For My Baby?

We think of toothpaste as clean and healthy. A tool to help us achieve a healthy smile and a healthy mouth. However, there are things in toothpaste you DO NOT want or need, especially if you are looking out for the wellbeing of your children.

If you have young babies you may want to look at Xylitol. Mix a half teaspoon into ½ ounce of water and wipe or brush the solution over the teeth with a toothbrush. You can also buy wipes called Spiffies at Buy Buy Baby stores.

What about children or teens?

We would not recommend monofluorophosphate since the molecule is large and has been shown to have less re-mineralization potential. Glycerin is another product in many “healthy” toothpastes and may interfere with re-mineralization also. Monofluorophosphate was developed in the 1960s as companies were looking to produce a less expensive toothpaste for “third-world countries”. Once the recipe was developed, it seems to have gained the attention of shareholders in big oral health companies and there has been a product explosion since then!

Make sure you read the bottle for ingredients and recommendations. Also keep in mind what you are trying to concentrate on, cleaning, tartar control, enamel, etc. Depending on the focus your selections may differ.