I needed to buy the kids new toothpaste recently, and since the American Dental Association’s recommendations were updated last year, I got sucked into researching it for way too long. For decades the ADA recommended not using fluoridated toothpaste for children under 2 years of age because they were too young to spit it out. But last year they updated their guidelines, and now recommend using a small smear (size of a rice grain) of fluoridated toothpaste for kids 6 months+, and to increase it to a pea-size amount at 2 years. According to the CDC, cavities among preschoolers have been on the rise for the first time in the past 40 years (source).

The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends using fluoridated toothpaste from 6 months+, however in a 2011 paper they recognize xylitol as an effective cavity fighting method, particularly for people at moderate or high risk of cavities. The ADA on the other hand published a study earlier this year saying there wasn’t enough evidence to support the effect of xylitol in cavity prevention. Luckily I didn’t have to think about all this since the new guidelines came out after Olive turned 2, so I used xylitol toothpaste for the kids then switched to a fluoridated toothpaste when they turned 2.

Since I’ve researched a lot of children’s toothpastes, I had to share so you can make the best decision for your family.

Best-Childrens-Toothpaste

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Fluoride-Free

Toms of Maine Fluoride-Free Silly Strawberry
EWG Score: 2
Active Ingredients: calcium, silica

Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel
EWG Score: 2
Active ingredients: silica, calendula

Xlear Spry Tooth Gel with Xylitol
No EWG score, but all its ingredients score 0
Active ingredients: silica, xylitol

Jack n Jill Natural Toothpaste
EWG Score blueberry and black currant: 0 Other flavors: 1
Active ingredients: silica, xylitol

Organic Mild Fennel Children’s Toothpaste
No EWG Score, but contains all natural ingredients
Active ingredients: myrrh, fennel

Fluoridated Toothpaste

Natural Dentist Groovy Grape
No EWG Score
Active ingredients: Sodium fluoride (0.24%)(0.15% w/v fluoride ion)((anticavity) Inactive ingredients Vegetable glycerin, sorbitol, purified water, silica, xylitol, aloe vera gel, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl glycinate, cellulose gum, natural flavors, xanthan gum, grapefruit seed extract, mica and stevia.

Toms of Maine Anticavity Fluoride Children’s Toothpaste
EWG Score: 2

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Xlear Spry’s Tooth Gel made with xylitol was our toothpaste of choice when the kids were under 2. It tastes great, the kids loved it, and nonfluoridated toothpaste was the official recommendation at the time. We tried the Jack n Jill brand as well, but it was the priciest option.

When researching fluoridated toothpastes for the kids, almost all of them contained Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), a common foaming agent used in toothpastes, soaps, shampoos, etc. I try to avoid purchasing products with SLS because they can exacerbate canker sores and Charlie has gotten them in the past, but most commercial toothpastes contain them. Most toothpastes also include artificial dyes. Tom’s of Maine doesn’t have any artificial dyes, but it does contain SLS. So our current toothpaste of choice is Natural Dentist’s Groovy Grape which doesn’t contain SLS or artificial dyes, has both fluoride and xylitol, and the kids love it.

I never thought I’d think so much about toothpaste! And you even have to think about whether your water is fluoridated or not (ours is). Knock on wood our kids have never had cavities, probably due to Mr. Bee’s good teeth genes because genetics play a big factor. But many of their friends have had cavities and have even undergone anesthesia to have teeth removed.

What toothpaste do you use for your kids? Do you/will you use fluoridated toothpaste for your kids under 2?