Children’s toothpaste – what do you choose?

The toothpaste section of the supermarket seems to continue to expand, and one area where this is particularly obvious is in the area of children’s toothpaste. I recently compared two brands of children’s toothpaste to see how they differed in terms of claims and ingredients. One, from a known brand, had specific claims that it was sugar-free and low in fluoride but failed to list the full run of ingredients on the tube (granted ingredients may have been listed on the cardboard box but that had long gone to the recycling bin).

The second brand, the natural brand our family chooses, has nothing to hide. In addition to the claims on the tube that the product had NO fluoride, No SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – a foaming agent), NO sugar, NO parabens, and NO artificial colours or sweeteners, a full ingredient list is provided with no alarming chemicals to be found.

It is an interesting and necessary exercise to do every once in a while. Marketers know we are busy and make quick choices based on key benefits. But often these benefits are designed to divert our attention from the real ingredients and this is yet another example where a well-known brand, that claims to be safe for children, may not meet your own standards of care.

We will continue to choose our natural brand toothpaste confident that with full disclosure of ingredients, the product is safe, reliable and good for us.

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Lindy Schneider is a writer and researcher with a keen interest in health, wellbeing and natural childcare. She is an advocator of a chemical-free lifestyle in the best interests of her family, the community and a sustainable world.