Guide to Choosing Dental Products for Children

In between dental appointments, at-home oral hygiene is vital to preventing tooth decay and cavities to maintain optimal oral health for your child. Sometimes, however, choosing dental products can be overwhelming when seemingly limitless options populate the dental care aisle at the store. At Hines Little Smiles, our pediatric dentists in New Albany are here to provide you with guidance, helping you demystify the dental care aisle and select the best children's oral care products. 

How to Choose Your Child's Dental Care Essentials

Toothbrush

When selecting a toothbrush for your child, consider the following:

• Size - Toothbrushes come with different-sized heads and a range of child and adult sizes to choose from.  Be sure you select an age-appropriate size of toothbrush for your child. These toothbrushes will feature handles that are easier for your child to hold onto and a toothbrush head that can more easily access all of the little nooks and crannies inside your child's mouth. 
• Bristles - Soft bristles are always the right choice for a child's toothbrush. Children have delicate gums, and harder or more rigid bristles can irritate and damage their soft tissues. This can result in discomfort, sores, and even gum recession and tooth sensitivity. 
• Manual vs. Electric - Electric toothbrushes tend to clean the teeth more thoroughly, and some children like the feeling of a buzzing toothbrush inside their mouths. Other children, however, don't like the feeling of an electric toothbrush. In these cases or when a child simply prefers brushing manually, manual toothbrushes work just fine, too. Whether brushing with a manual or electric toothbrush, be sure to help your child apply gentle pressure at a 45-degree angle and brush for two minutes in the morning and before bed. 

Toothpaste

Consider the following when selecting toothpaste for your child:

• ADA Approval - To ensure safety and efficacy, look for the American Dental Association's seal of approval. 
• Age - The toothpaste — and the amount of fluoride it contains — that is right for your child will change depending on their age. Several oral hygiene companies manufacture different toothpaste formulas for different age groups. From zero to two, infants should have a fluoride-free toothpaste. Starting at age two to about eight years, children should be monitored while they learn to spit out excess toothpaste, and they should only use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. 
• Fluoride Content - Most dentists recommend toothpaste with a fluoride content of 1000 ppm. 
• Harsh Ingredients - Avoid whitening toothpaste or overly harsh ingredients like sodium laurel sulfate.

Dental Floss

Flossing is recommended for children as soon as they have adjacent teeth. Parents can floss a toddler's teeth, but they should start learning how to floss as soon as they are able. At around age 6-8, children should be encouraged to floss their own teeth. Look for kid-friendly floss, floss picks, and flossing tools that make it easier for children to hold floss and manage moving it in between their teeth. 

Individual Needs

Depending on your child's oral health and treatment recommendations, we might also provide you with recommendations for additional oral health tools, supplements, or products.

For example, children who are prone to tooth decay can sometimes benefit from fluoride supplements when they are not getting enough dietary fluoride. (Fluoride supplements are not recommended for all children, as too much internal fluoride can cause discoloration in developing teeth.) In other cases, children who have orthodontic appliances will likely benefit from the addition of interdental brushes and specialized floss picks.

Our dentists can help you determine when your child might benefit from additional oral care products. 

Make Oral Hygiene More Fun

When it comes to oral hygiene, style and flavor can be important motivators and detractors from your child's routine. Be sure to ask your child about which flavors of toothpaste and dental floss they prefer and allow them to choose the color or style of their toothbrush. Involving your child in the process of shopping for oral hygiene products is an excellent way to get them excited about dental care. 

Find Your Home for Happiness With Our Pediatric Dentists in New Albany

At Hines Little Smiles, we strive to make every aspect of oral health and hygiene positive and fun for children. If you're struggling to get your child to brush their teeth at home or have concerns about the dental care products your child is using, we welcome you to talk to our team of pediatric dentists. We can provide you with product recommendations and strategies to help your child feel more excited about caring for their teeth. 

To learn more or request an appointment, we welcome you to contact our pediatric dental office in Columbus today.p