Blog Summary:
Learn about why everything you may know about brushing and flossing is wrong.
Then, discover how to choose kids’ at-home oral care products that are safe, effective, and science-backed while avoiding ineffective and unsafe products, including “natural” products and conventional ones that do more harm than good.
Finally, get 7 product recommendations for the best at-home dental care products, including:
- The best toothbrushes for kids (from toddlers to teens!)
- Fluoride & non-fluoride toothpaste options designed for kids’ unique needs
- Mouthwashes that support strong, healthy teeth
- Kid-friendly flossers that turn flossing into a fun daily habit
A recent survey conducted by The Super Dentists’ own Dr. Kami Hoss found that around 45% of kindergartners surveyed had more than 7 cavities. Yikes!
This underscores the importance of proper oral care. Going to the dentist at least one to two times a year for checkups and cleanings is, of course, important. But so is taking care of your teeth and entire mouth every other day of the year.
That’s where high-quality at-home dental care products come in. Always look for products that are proven to be both safe and effective, especially when shopping for your little ones.
Here are several suggestions for some of the best at-home dental care products on the market.
Finding Kid-Friendly Dental Products is Hard!
Think of the dental aisle at your local grocery store, drug store, or big box chain, and what words pop up in your mind’s eye? “Fun” or “Kid-friendly” are probably not among the first adjectives that come to mind.
Most dental products are designed by and for adults. They’re boring. And in most cases, they’re not even as safe or effective as you’d think!
- On the one hand, you have “conventional” products. These are often made with toxic ingredients. A common example is floss with PFAS. Sometimes, conventional products contain substances that may be harmful. For instance, mouthwash with alcohol is linked to cancer.
- On the other hand, you have “natural” products – made with ingredients like essential oils, activated charcoal, and other ingredients. While these are sometimes safe, that isn’t always the case. For instance, harsh charcoal can contribute to premature enamel wear. Peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil, meanwhile, kill bad and good bacteria just like alcohol, decimating the oral microbiome and changing the mouth’s pH.
So where do you turn for science-backed products that are safe & effective? Here are 7 of the best oral care products for kids created and approved by dentists.
1. The Best Toothbrushes for Kids
Kids have different dental needs. Toddlers may require softer bristles. Young children might get distracted while brushing their teeth. Teens might need bristles for braces. Contrary to popular wisdom, there’s really no one-size-fits-all toothbrush.
Here are a few of the best kids’ toothbrushes for different needs:
- For Toddlers: Toddler Ultra Soft Kids Toothbrush
- For Kids Who Need Extra Brushing Motivation: Musical Sonic Toothbrush
- For Teens with Braces: OrthoBrush Manual Toothbrush
- For Kids of Various Ages: SuperBrush Jr Manual Toothbrush for Kids
2. The Best Non-Fluoride Mouthwash for Kids
Hydroxyapatite has been used since the 1970s to help remineralize teeth similar to fluoride. It’s safe and effective.
Nano hydroxyapatite in particular, binds to teeth more easily, which is why it’s included in Supermouth Hydroxamin non-Fluoride Mouthwash, one of the best mouthwashes for kids who can’t tolerate fluoride yet.
This mouthwash is alkaline for a healthy mouth pH and boasts fluoride and a proprietary blend of nano hydroxyapatite, and vitamin D3. These ingredients help support enamel health and improve tooth strength. It also contains xylitol to promote saliva production.
3. The Best Fluoride Mouthwash for Kids
Fluoride. Is it bad? Is it good? You’ve probably heard mixed things. Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance, and it is toxic, especially in large amounts, but that shouldn’t necessarily scare you away from using it.
The American Dental Association (ADA) “recognizes the use of fluoride and community water fluoridation as safe and effective in preventing tooth decay for both children and adults”.
While infants, toddlers, and some kids who have not yet learned safe swallowing skills should avoid fluoride, most other kids should be okay to use it in an effort to strengthen enamel and prevent cavities.
One of the best fluoride mouthwashes is SuperMouth Hydroxamin with Fluoride Mouthwash, which contains all the benefits of both nano hydroxyapatite and fluoride.
4. The Best Non-Fluoride Toothpaste for Kids
With a high concentration of nano hydroxyapatite and xylitol, SuperMouth non-fluoride toothpaste contains many of the same benefits as Supermouth non-fluoride mouthwash but in toothpaste form! It’s also filled with prebiotic support and free from essential oils commonly found in “natural” toothpastes that disrupt the oral microbiome. What’s more, it acts as both an anticavity toothpaste and a gentle whitening toothpaste.
5. The Best Fluoride Toothpaste for Kids
Supermouth Fluoride with Nano Hydroxyapatite toothpaste offers the same benefits and ingredients as Supermouth non-fluoride toothpaste with the addition of fluoride for extra anticavity properties.
6. The Best Floss Picks for Kids
While Supermouth sells non-fluoride and fluoride floss with no PFAS/PTFE, not to mention ortho floss for teens with braces, arguably their best floss products for kids are their flossers, which are designed like superheroes in a variety of colors corresponding to different flavors to make flossing easy, fun, and yummy!
7. Simplifying Pediatric Oral Care: The Best Mouth Care Systems for Kids
By far the easiest and best way to shop for at-home dental care products for your kids is to choose an entire mouth care system. After all, your mouth is a complex system. So is your body as a whole. Why take a piecemeal approach to dental care?
Supermouth makes mouth care systems tailored to different age groups and life stages including:
- Teething to 24 months
- 2-5 years
- 6-12 years
- Teens & adults
- Pregnancy
- Orthodontics
Make Kids’ Oral Care More Fun, Effective, & Safe with Supermouth
Make oral care fun for your child! Explore safe and effective kid-friendly toothbrushes, toothpaste, accessories mouthcare systems, and more at Supermouth.com.
