In Summerlin, parents have a range of innovative dental products designed to make brushing and flossing not only effective but also fun and suited to children’s unique needs. From gentle silicone toothbrushes to eco-friendly options and even high-tech dental care tools, here’s a guide to some of the best products for helping kids build positive dental routines and ensure smooth visits to the pediatric dentist.
Benefits of Silicone Bristles: Silicone toothbrushes offer a gentle brushing experience, ideal for children who find traditional bristle brushes uncomfortable. The flexible bristles are softer, making brushing a soothing experience, particularly for kids with sensory sensitivities. Silicone’s smooth texture also allows for easy maneuvering around the teeth and gums.
Promoting Comfort and Routine: Children who struggle with brushing due to sensory sensitivities can benefit from the comforting feel of silicone brushes, helping them establish a daily dental routine. Brands like Baby Banana and Jordan Step provide colorful, kid-friendly silicone toothbrushes, helping to create a positive experience from a young age.
Sustainable and Biodegradable: Bamboo toothbrushes, made from renewable materials, are a great eco-friendly alternative to plastic. Biodegradable and compostable, these brushes are perfect for instilling earth-friendly habits in children while promoting good dental hygiene. Brands like Brush with Bamboo Kids and Humble Brush Kids offer kid-sized bamboo toothbrushes with ultra-soft bristles, making them gentle on young gums.
Summerlin Eco-Friendly Options: Stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts Farmers Market often stock bamboo toothbrushes for children, providing an eco-conscious option for parents who prefer to shop locally.
Enamel Protection and Proper Technique: Children's teeth are sensitive and vulnerable to brushing pressure. Electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors help kids learn to brush gently by signaling when they are pressing too hard. This feature helps preserve enamel and fosters healthy brushing habits. Many Summerlin pediatric dentists recommend these toothbrushes for teaching kids safe, effective brushing.
Interactive Features for Engaging Brushing: To make brushing more exciting, some electric toothbrushes come with lights, sounds, and timers. Brands like Oral-B Kids and Philips Sonicare have models that light up or play sounds when the correct brushing pressure is applied, making dental care enjoyable and reinforcing proper technique.
Safe Alternatives to Fluoride: For young children sensitive to fluoride, mineral-based toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite can provide safe cavity protection. These toothpaste options help remineralize teeth, prevent decay, and reduce sensitivity without fluoride. RiseWell Kids and Boka Junior are popular brands that offer natural, fluoride-free toothpaste made from gentle, food-grade ingredients.
Available Locally in Summerlin: Natural health stores like Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market carry these mineral-based, fluoride-free options, catering to parents seeking safe dental products for their children.
Cavity Prevention On-the-Go: Sugar-free dental chewing gums with xylitol are a convenient way for older children to maintain oral hygiene between brushings, especially after meals. Xylitol reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth, preventing cavities and promoting a cleaner mouth. Spry Kids Tooth-Friendly Gum and PUR Kid’s Gum offer child-friendly flavors and are often available at health stores in Summerlin.
Maintaining Fresh Breath and Saliva Production: Chewing xylitol gum stimulates saliva production, helping wash away food particles and reduce dry mouth—a common cause of bad breath.
Overnight Plaque Control: Plaque-reducing gels provide an extra layer of cavity protection by neutralizing acids and controlling plaque buildup overnight. These gels are especially beneficial for kids with braces or orthodontic appliances. CariFree CTx4 Gel and GC MI Paste offer effective plaque control and cavity prevention, and are available online and in dental health stores.
Ideal for Orthodontic Care: For children with braces, plaque-reducing gels help reduce the risk of plaque buildup around brackets and wires, ensuring oral health is maintained throughout orthodontic treatment.
Sustainable, Gentle Flossing: Plant-based floss, made from biodegradable materials like corn fiber or silk, is a great eco-conscious alternative to traditional floss. Radius Kids Floss and Humble Co. Kids Floss Picks offer gentle, soft floss that’s ideal for children with sensitive gums, and both brands are commonly found in health stores across Summerlin.
Promoting Environmental Responsibility: Using plant-based floss helps reduce plastic waste and promotes sustainable dental hygiene habits.
Effective Cleaning for Orthodontic Care: Kid-sized water flossers offer a gentle, fun way to clean between teeth. They’re especially useful for children with braces, as they can reach areas that traditional floss might miss. Waterpik Kids Water Flosser and Panasonic Kid’s Water Flosser are compact, easy-to-use models available at major stores like Target and Best Buy.
Fun Alternative to Traditional Flossing: Water flossers can make dental hygiene more enjoyable for kids, encouraging consistent use and thorough cleaning.
Eco-Friendly and Travel-Friendly: Toothpaste tablets reduce plastic waste and make on-the-go dental care easy for children. These chewable tablets, available in fun flavors, turn brushing into an engaging activity. Bite Toothpaste Bits for Kids and Hum Kids Toothpaste Tablets are available online and in eco-conscious stores around Summerlin.
Whitening and Bacteria Reduction: LED light toothbrushes with blue light technology can reduce bacteria while supporting whiter teeth. Brands like SNOW LED Kid’s Toothbrush and GLO Science GLO Lit Toothbrush for Kids offer fun, light-up brushes that engage kids and encourage thorough brushing. These models are available at online retailers and specialty dental stores.
Visual Timing for Proper Brushing: Magnetic sand timers attach to the bathroom mirror, providing a visual countdown to help children brush for the recommended two minutes. Fheaven Kids Toothbrush Timer and Mornwell Magnetic Sand Timers are great options that make brushing time fun and consistent, and are available online and at select health stores.
Complete Oral Hygiene: Tongue scrapers help remove bacteria from the tongue, supporting fresh breath and overall dental health. DenTek Kids Tongue Cleaner and Oral-B Kids Tongue Cleaner feature kid-friendly designs and are available at major Summerlin retailers like Target and Walmart.
Extra Sanitation for Shared Bathrooms: UV toothbrush sanitizers use UV-C light to kill bacteria on toothbrush bristles, ensuring a cleaner brushing experience. Bril Kids Toothbrush Sanitizer and Pursonic S1 Portable UV Toothbrush Sanitizer are available at stores like Walmart and Target, as well as online.
Supporting a Healthy Oral Microbiome: Probiotic chews offer a tasty way for kids to support oral health by balancing the mouth's bacteria. Great Oral Health Kids Probiotic and ProBiora Kids Oral Probiotic Tablets provide kid-friendly flavors and are available at health stores like Whole Foods and online.
By selecting the right products, Summerlin parents can help their children develop positive dental habits, making oral hygiene a routine they’ll enjoy and benefit from for life.