Finding the best toothbrushes for kids isn't always easy, there's a variety of different styles to choose from, including electric toothbrushes, and knowing which will help to encourage your child to actually brush their teeth can be hard.
Teaching your child how to brush their teeth isn't just about removing plaque and bits of food from the mouth, it's also key to keeping gums healthy and preventing oral diseases. So whether you have a baby with one teeny tooth poking through, or a toddler with a few, it's super important to take care of your child's milk teeth as soon as they appear with the best toothbrushes for kids, so that they can keep their mouth as healthy as possible.
The best toothbrushes for kids at a glance:
• Best toothbrushes for kids for first teeth: Brush-Baby BabySonic Kids Electric Toothbrush - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best toothbrushes for kids who chew their brush: Brush-Baby Chewable Toothbrush - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best toothbrushes for kids with rechargeable battery: Oral-B Junior Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush - Buy now on Amazon UK.
Good quality toothbrushes for kids or a baby finger toothbrush for young babies from a reputable or dentist-approved brand is key for good oral health. To help your child (and you) on their teeth brushing journey, we've rounded up the best toothbrushes for babies and toddlers, as well as the best toothbrushes for kids.
We've also included some expert advice and tips from Dr Safa Al-Naher, principal dentist and director of Serene Dental and mum-of-two.
Best toothbrushes for kids for first teeth
If you struggle to get a kid's electric toothbrush anyway near your baby's mouth, then this one could be your saving grace. Not only will your little one be fascinated as they watch their toothbrush light up, but it also vibrates every 30 seconds and has a two-minute timer built-in. This Brush-Baby BabySonic Electric Toothbrush is also designed to grow with your baby and can be used up until they're three years old. It was even awarded 'Best Bathtime Product' in our 2015 Mother&Baby Awards.
One parent reviewer said: "My 18-month-old has hated having her teeth brushed for months now, and it became a daily struggle which was becoming stressful and tiresome. I tried various techniques and bribery and then came across this toothbrush. All I can say is, if you find yourself in a similar situation, then you won't regret making this purchase. I would have paid much more for this brush because it works! My little girl now sits and actually lets me brush her teeth. She seems very intrigued by the LED light and the soft vibration and seems to be quite content to have it in her mouth. "
Read our full Brush-Baby BabySonic Electric Toothbrush review
Pros
- Rubber grip handle
- Built-in two-minute timer and 30-second pacer
- Battery operated
- LED light to check baby's teeth
- Gentle brush head (comes with baby one and toddler one)
Cons
- Some parents found the bristles too soft for 2-3-year-olds
| Age suitability: | Newborn to 36 months |
Best toothbrushes for kids with extra softness
www.boots.com
This manual Colgate Kids 0-3 Years Extra Soft Toothbrush is ideal for young babies and has been made with super soft bristles and a small head, making it ideal to clean your baby's first teeth. It's a great price, too, and will keep your baby's teeth and gums clean and healthy as their milk teeth start making an appearance.
One parent review said: "My 8-month-old has just gained a few little teeth, and we have introduced teeth brushing into her morning and bedtime routines. She loves the process and copying mummy and daddy and seems to have taken well to this particular toothbrush."
Pros
- Extra gentle bristles
- Cheap
- Non-slip handle
- Small head
Cons
- May need to replace often if baby chews the head
| Age suitability: | Newborn+ |
Best toothbrushes for kids who chew their brush
This is one of Brush-Baby's most inventive kids' toothbrushes and a product that our real mum testers loved. It's specifically designed for babies and tots who either chew their toothbrushes or won't let you brush their teeth at all. Simply squirt on some baby toothpaste and let your little one gnaw on the soft, BPA-free, medical-grade silicone. It's also dishwasher and steriliser safe (up to 180 degrees) and can even be used to soothe sore gums. Find out how our real mum testers got on with the Brush-Baby Chewable Toothbrush.
One parent review said: "Pop some milk teeth toothpaste on here, and my little one likes to chew away on it. Cleans his little teeth, and it's soft on his gums. He doesn't struggle to keep ahold of it either. Perfect size for little hands."
Read our full Brush-Baby Chewable Toothbrush review
Pros
- Fun design
- Stress-free brushing
- Can also be used to soothe gums
Cons
- Not as effective as an actual toothbrush (when teeth start poking through)
| Age suitability: | 10 to 36 months |
Best toothbrushes for kids with fun design
If there are any Frozen fans in the house, then they'll love this toothbrush from the trusted dentistry brand Oral-B. As well as its fun, princess design, Oral-B's Kids Electric Toothbrush Frozen 2 also comes with four stickers, and kiddies can brush along to the Disney Magic Timer app. In the box, as well as a charger, you'll also get an additional replacement head.
One parent review said: "Great electric toothbrush for my daughters, they've been using them for about a year now, and it defo helps encourage them to use it."
Pros
- Fun design
- Non-slip rubber handle
- Disney timer app to brush along too
Cons
- Rechargeable battery only lasts up to five days
| Age suitability: | 3 years+ |
Best battery operated toothbrushes for kids
www.boots.com
This Colgate Kids Batman Extra Soft battery-operated electric toothbrush is budget-friendly but still ensures your child's teeth will receive a good clean. Its fun Batman character will entice any small superhero fans to get brushing their teeth pronto, while its slim handle is easy for little hands to hold.
One parent review: "I would recommend this. It's overall a good toothbrush. Softer than a sheep's back. Easy to use and switch on and off. Comfortable to hold, and battery is lasting well."
Pros
- Battery operated
- Available in two fun designs (Batman or Barbie)
- Very soft bristles
- Cheap
Cons
- Brush head is not replaceable
- No built-in timer
| Age suitability: | 3 years+ |
Best toothbrushes for kids with app connection
This Philips Sonicare For Kids Electric Toothbrush still has fun features to keep your child engaged while brushing their teeth. The toothbrush connects to an interactive app that will teach them all about how to brush their teeth properly and give them rewards for a brush well done. It also comes with two brush heads and eight stickers for your child to customise their brush with.
One parent review said: "We love this toothbrush! Fantastic app with so much to encourage teeth brushing. The toothbrush itself is great, good size for little hands, with the sticker sheets to personalise and just like mummys'! The app is fab - right from the start when you crack open your sparkly's egg. The achievements section is ideal for motivating teeth brushing and also adding rewards for continuous brushing days."
Pros
- Interactive app to make brushing teeth fun and educational
- Available in pink or green
- Two-minute timer and 30-second pacer
- Long battery life (up to two weeks)
Cons
- Doesn't have a rotating toothbrush head
| Age suitability: | 6 years+ |
Best rechargeable toothbrushes for kids
If your child fancies a more 'grown-up looking' electric toothbrush, then this Oral-B Junior Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush will do them nicely. Its bright colour will immediately catch your child's eye, and the built-in two-minute timer will ensure their teeth get a decent, thorough clean. As well as coming with a charger and additional toothbrush head, you'll also find a handy 'bathroom brushing guide' in the box.
One parent review said: "Getting the kids to want to brush their teeth isn't always easy as there always seems to be something way more fun to do. But brushes having characters on definitely makes it more exciting and appealing to them! We always get a great brush, and they last the 3 months before we change for new heads. Worth every penny."
Pros
- Attractive colour (also available in purple)
- Built-in two-minute timer
- Extra soft bristles to be gentle on teeth and gums
Cons
- Shorter battery life than competitors (seven days)
| Age suitability: | 6 years+ |
FAQs
What age should my child start brushing their teeth?
As soon as you see a tooth pop through your baby's gum, it's time to start brushing your baby's teeth. "This is because there could be bacteria there and plaque which needs to be removed," says Dr Safa.
Make sure you know exactly how to brush your baby's teeth so that their mouth remains as healthy as possible. "Once they are one year old, it should be a regular thing to brush their teeth in the morning and evening," says Dr Safa.
What's the best type of toothbrush that children should use?
We're constantly told an electric toothbrush provides a better clean than a manual toothbrush. However, when it comes to children, especially babies, the same doesn't necessarily apply. A baby toothbrush with a smaller, soft head would be better suited for babies.
"From my own experience, electric toothbrushes are great, as long as your child is old enough to know what it is and stay still," says Dr Safa. "My four and six-year-old use electric toothbrushes and it makes the process a lot quicker and takes out a little bit of the anxiety that they've removed everything. You don't have to scrub their gums away as the electric toothbrush does it all." For younger children, like babies, an electric toothbrush isn't essential.
Check out Dr Safa's toothbrush age guideline below.
What should I look for in a good children's toothbrush?
The most important thing to keep in mind when looking for a children's toothbrush is that the head is the right size. "You want a small head for small mouths because a big head is going to miss areas, so a small, preferably round head is good," says Dr Safa. Also, make sure it's for your child's age group. "Don't get an adult toothbrush for a child because the head will be the wrong size, and the vibrations will be stronger."
How we chose the best toothbrush for kids
We studied the parent reviews for each of the products listed, making sure we only selected kids' toothbrushes with more than a 60 per cent five-star rating to ensure the products selected deliver customer satisfaction. We also spoke to the dentist and mum-of-two, Dr Safa Al-Naher, who has also looked over and approved our selection of baby, toddler and junior toothbrushes.
The Mother&Baby Awards parent testers are provided with some guidelines while testing, so that they take into consideration four key areas: usability, design, quality and value for money. We ask them to score each of these out of 10, as well as give their overall impression of the product.
Find out more about how we test products for Mother&Baby.
About the expert
Dr Safa Al-Naher is the director and principal dentist at Serene. Dr Safa is a dedicated mother of 2 (soon to be 3) and cherishes family time, travel, baking and painting.
Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits