Before purchasing a toothbrush for your baby, check for one that is age-appropriate with soft bristles for gentle brushing. We carefully considered design, age recommendations, ease of use, and value when reviewing products. Here are the best baby toothbrushes to get your little one excited about brushing teeth. The Baby Buddy is designed for babies 4 months old and up, because the soft silicone bristles make it useful before those teeth start to show. Plus, you can freeze it, throw it in the dishwasher, and even pop it into a bottle sterilizer if you need a quick cleanse. Price at time of publish: $4 The Radius is a basic brush in a scaled-down size that is just right for little mouths. Despite its budget price tag, you can feel confident that the Radius brush is a safe choice for your baby. The soft bristles are made from vegetable-based nylon, and the brush is dye-free and BPA-free. Price at time of publish: $4 With this type of brush, you can use your finger to gently rub along your baby’s gums and emerging teeth for a whole-mouth clean—even in infancy. A fingertip brush is also great for getting your baby used to a mouth-cleaning routine. We love FridaBaby’s fingertip brush for its durability and BPA-free, food-grade silicone construction. The brush has two-sided action for a thorough clean. Price at time of publish: $8 Another amazing offering from the innovative FridaBaby company, this toothbrush’s funny shape was designed to “hug” your toddler’s teeth. The clever design allows you to get their teeth clean with much less brushing than a regular toothbrush. Your toddler will get a kick out of “brushing” their teeth all by themselves with this brush, and you’ll love that they’re learning good hygiene habits at a young age. Price at time of publish: $8 The best part about this brush is that your baby can brush all by themselves, promoting hand-eye coordination and good hygiene. This ingenious product is perfectly shaped for little hands to easily grasp, and its gentle silicone bristles bring relief to sore gums while still brushing them clean. Price at time of publish: $8 The first brush is great for early teething (from about six months). It’s great for getting your baby used to the feeling of a toothbrush in their mouth and also lets them work on their grip. As your baby’s teething process continues, the additional brushes will provide a much-needed relief from sore gums—you can even pop them in the refrigerator to increase their comfort. The toddler-sized toothbrush is ideal for when your little one’s baby teeth finally come in. By that time, your toddler should be a pro at using a toothbrush! Price at time of publish: $8 We recommend Brush-Baby’s Baby Sonic Electric Toothbrush. It’s got the sonic power of an adult electric toothbrush in a little-mouth size. It even has an easy-to-grasp handle that lets your baby do the brushing themselves. The soft bristles are safe for developing teeth and gums. Plus, the BabySonic has an incorporated LED light that little ones love. Price at time of publish: $17 This cool baby toothbrush, which comes in a variety of fun colors, also acts as a two-in-one. Your baby can learn hand-eye coordination while practicing good oral health habits. As an added bonus, the bottom of the handle can be used as a teether. Price at time of publish: $9 A smaller toothbrush will fit in baby’s mouth much easier, too, hitting teeth better and ensuring they’re getting clean. Check the manufacturer’s age recommendations before using a toothbrush for baby. Overall, you want to make sure they have their own toothbrush and are brushing twice a day—once after breakfast and just before bed. Brushing teeth twice a day for at least two minutes is important dental hygiene to instill early.
Soft Bristles
Brushing at an early age is important, so finding the right toothbrush is key. There are many baby toothbrushes on the market, but before you make your final decision, look for a toothbrush with soft bristles, especially if baby is just starting to bud teeth. This cleans their mouth and may also feel soothing. Toothbrushes with soft bristles are great for cleaning gums. Once a baby starts growing teeth, decay can begin, which is why good dental hygiene is vital once they start teething. It may feel like soft bristles aren’t doing much, but for a baby’s mouth, it’s plenty. It removes any milk and sugar buildup from meals.
Teething Toothbrush vs. Finger Toothbrush
Now that you know a soft bristle toothbrush is the way to go for babies, it’s time to decide between a teething toothbrush or finger toothbrush. There are a few differences between the two, but many parents and caregivers wonder if one cleans better than the other. Teething toothbrushes typically have soft bristles, sometimes made of silicone, that can resemble an adult toothbrush but smaller. Once baby’s teeth erupt, these are ideal for brushing teeth as baby can grasp the toothbrush themselves and learn how to brush independently (with help, of course). As for finger toothbrushes, they fit on a finger like a thimble does for sewing. They also have soft silicone bristles to help clean gums from any buildup. These are perfect for simply cleaning baby’s mouth before any teeth come in. They can also be used once teeth erupt, too, with a rice-sized amount of toothpaste.
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While this doesn’t mean you need to add toothpaste and an actual toothbrush before they have teeth, you do want to care for their gums. Take a fingertip toothbrush or washcloth to simply rub their gums before the first tooth erupts. Once a tooth appears, decay can begin forming if the mouth is not properly cleaned. You’ll want to use a rice-sized amount of toothpaste on your child’s brush until they turn three. Too much toothpaste can lead to fluorosis, a condition that can permanently stain teeth by forming pits and spots on teeth.
