The best kids' toothpaste these days is fruity, with smoother textures, and parents can choose toothpaste with or without fluoride. Oral hygiene is an important habit to introduce to your kids early on in their childhood, so it's helpful when the toothpaste is also tasty! Dentists also recommend a "training" toothpaste to teach your child how to spit out the toothpaste when they're finished brushing. We've collected the most kid-friendly tubes of toothpaste, so check them out below and see which one your child likes best.
Tom's of Maine anticavity fluoride children's toothpaste, 5.1 ounces, 3-pack
Staff pick
Available in 5 flavors, including an especially toothsome orange mango variety, Tom's of Maine's kids' toothpaste fights cavities and is ADA approved. It's also preservative, sugar, and microbead free. Calcium and silica work in tandem to polish tiny teeth without a gritty sensation and all tubes are recyclable. Tom's of Maine is also a brand you can feel good about buying; they're climate-pledge friendly and donate 10-percent of proceeds to charity.
Hello Oral Care kids toothpaste, 4.2 ounces
All-natural at a reasonable cost
Hello Oral Care makes some of the best-tasting pastes on the market today, and while I can only speak for the adult version, it stands to reason that the kids' option is equally delicious. Most importantly, it's sugar, phthalate, SLS, and fluoride-free, which earned it the Leaping Bunny award. Its smooth texture comes from silica, which is far less gritty than the polishing particles in adult pastes. Offered in watermelon and wild strawberry, this vegan paste is one your kids will reach for on their own.
Aquafresh kids fluoride cavity protection toothpaste, 4.6 ounces
Easy pump dispenser
Aquafresh's sugar-free formula complements the added fluoride for squeaky clean, cavity-free teeth that sparkle. Its bubble mint flavor is a cross between bubblegum and a mild hint of minty flavor, making it palatable for kids two years old and up. A cleverly designed pump-action bottle is made for little hands, allowing them to dispense the paste independently. This feature eliminates the chance of kids putting half the tube onto their brush (or all over your bathroom) if unsupervised.
Crest Kid's Cavity Protection toothpaste, 4.6 ounces, 3-pack
Build habits with sparkles
Depending on their dentist's guidance, you'll want to look for toothpaste containing fluoride to protect your child's teeth after age two. Kid's Crest is ideal for children around age six as their adult teeth are beginning to come in, and the Sparkle Fun flavor shimmers and glitters as your child squeezes it onto the brush. The fluoride in this paste is differently formulated than most; it's a gentle, effective form called Fluoristat. These tubes are also generously sized, and you'll get three.
Orajel Paw Patrol fluoride-free training toothpaste, 1.5 ounces
For kids 4-24 months
Orajel's been a trusted brand for decades, one that parents commonly turn to soothe teething pain. They make more than numbing gel, though; their Paw Patrol Fruity Fun training toothpaste is SLS, paraben, alcohol, sugar, and dye-free. Getting your kids in the habit of spitting the toothpaste out when they're done can be a challenging task; kids' toothpaste tastes excellent. Thankfully, Orajel's fluoride-free training toothpaste is safe to swallow when used as directed.
Bottom line
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Texture, flavor, and cavity-fighting power are probably the three most important factors when choosing the best kids' toothpaste for your child. Despite delicious flavors, they're generally swallow-safe if made for children older than the age of two. Tom's of Maine's anticavity kids' toothpaste is smooth and fruity, grit-free, and fluoride-free so that it can be used for children of all ages.
As your child gets older and is looking for more independence in their daily routine, Aquafresh's stand up pump toothpaste is a wise choice. It stays securely upright, and your kids can dispense just enough on their brush, all by themselves.