7 Kid-friendly dental care products

Dentists say it’s never too early to start cleaning a toddler’s teeth, but a toothbrush isn’t the only solution, especially for infants or toddlers who haven’t warmed up to the dental tool. Tooth Tissues, created by dentist and mom Dr. Grace Lo, are a breakthrough teeth-cleaning item for infants and toddlers. They are free of fluoride and parabens, and contain xylitol, a natural cavity fighter. All you have to do is wipe the Tooth Tissue along your baby or toddler’s gums or teeth to help remove dental bacteria and to get your little one accustomed to dental care.

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Another fabulous dental care tool for babies, the MAM Oral Care Rabbit is designed to entertain the tykes while Mom or Dad tucks a finger in the bunny’s super-soft ears like a glove and gently massage baby’s gums or budding teeth. Made of a BPA-free cotton terry/Lycra blend, this bunny comes in blue or pink, depending on your child’s preference, and is a great way to introduce your tot to regular oral cleaning.

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Your kids may not eat toothpaste, but you should be concerned about the ingredients they are putting in their mouth. The strawberry-flavored fluoride-free toothpaste from Tom’s of Maine is specially formulated for children and uses calcium and silica for gentle but effective teeth cleaning. If your child does happen to swallow a mouthful of Tom’s toothpaste, you don’t have to worry.

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The Firefly toothbrushes make dental care fun for the kids because the handle of each toothbrush lights up and flashes for one minute — teaching your kids to brush their teeth for at least 60 seconds. Your kiddos can choose from the original style, which comes in six colors, or the character toothbrushes, which include super heroes, Barbie, Snoopy and more. These kid-friendly toothbrushes feature soft bristles, and the rubber handles feel good in their little hands.

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For your tweens and teens, this hit musical toothbrush features soft bristles, a soft rubber coating, replaceable brush head and battery (making it an economical buy, too). Where does the music come in? The handle has two buttons — one for the morning, one for the evening — that each play a Justin Bieber song that lasts two minutes, the dentist recommended time to brush. (If Justin Bieber isn’t a fave among your kids, Brush Buddies has a fun assortment of other character toothbrushes to check out.)

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Using natural fluoride, this kid-friendly rinse is especially formulated for mouths with orthodontics, helping to clean out the hard-to-reach places in the mouth while soothing irritations caused by braces. Getting your kids in the habit of regular rinsing will help them fight cavities, strengthen their tooth enamel, and keep their breath fresh. The Natural Dentist rinse is free of alcohol and harsh ingredients, but still needs to be kept out of reach of young children who might like the berry taste enough to drink it.

Perhaps your kids love brushing but don’t like pulling string in between their teeth. Brush Buddies makes flossing fun, with monkey-shaped flossers, which are easier to use than traditional dental floss. They come in three eye-catching colors. Your kids get to “monkey around” while caring for their teeth.

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