COVID-19 Policy/Procedures – We have carefully resumed routine dental care. Our goal is to keep you and your family safe.
To see a video overview that explains our safe practices click here.
Please see our safety protocol here.

alarm-ringing ambulance angle2 archive arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up at-sign baby baby2 bag binoculars book-open book2 bookmark2 bubble calendar-check calendar-empty camera2 cart chart-growth check chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up circle-minus circle city clapboard-play clipboard-empty clipboard-text clock clock2 cloud-download cloud-windy cloud clubs cog cross crown cube youtube diamond4 diamonds drop-crossed drop2 earth ellipsis envelope-open envelope exclamation eye-dropper eye facebook file-empty fire flag2 flare foursquare gift glasses google graph hammer-wrench heart-pulse heart home instagram joystick lamp layers lifebuoy link linkedin list lock magic-wand map-marker map medal-empty menu microscope minus moon mustache-glasses paper-plane paperclip papers pen pencil pie-chart pinterest plus-circle plus power printer pushpin question rain reading receipt recycle reminder sad shield-check smartphone smile soccer spades speed-medium spotlights star-empty star-half star store sun-glasses sun tag telephone thumbs-down thumbs-up tree tumblr twitter tiktok wechat user users wheelchair write yelp youtube

Which Kids’ Toothbrush Is Best?

Here’s a handy guide that can help parents navigate the toothbrush aisle the next time they need to replace a child’s toothbrush.

This should be every few months — certainly by the time the bristles look bent. Start out by choosing from toothbrushes with the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance.

Manual or Electric Toothbrush?

Next, electric or manual? While both types of toothbrushes have the same capacity to clean teeth, electric toothbrushes might be a better choice for some kids. A child with a tendency to brush too hard, who has limited dexterity, who needs help getting to their molars, or who has special needs and difficulties may do better with an electric toothbrush, but one who is great at brushing is just fine with a manual brush.

Soft Bristles Are Better

What about bristle hardness? We recommend soft-bristled brushes to our patients, especially for young children. Soft bristles are gentle on gums but still effective against plaque and food debris.

One Size Does NOT Fit All

Size is also important. A child’s toothbrush should fit their hand and mouth, or they won’t be able to use it effectively. A non-slip grip might also be a good idea if they have a tendency to drop their toothbrush.

Their Favorite Toothbrush Is the One They Choose

We are happy to give specific toothbrush recommendations. A child can also pick their favorite from a selection that meets the other requirements. They’re more likely to enjoy brushing with a toothbrush that’s their favorite color or has their favorite character on the handle. In the end, the best toothbrush is the one they use!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.