Why finding the right toothpaste flavour for your child can change everything

Sep 3

2 min read

Mint. Strawberry. Caramel. Watermelon. You may have tried more toothpaste flavours than you care to remember in the search for one your child will actually use.

For some children, toothbrushing isn’t simply a case of not wanting to brush. The taste, smell, texture or foaming sensation of everyday toothpaste can make the whole experience difficult, particularly for children with sensory sensitivities or additional needs.

And when something feels unpleasant twice a day, every day, it’s easy to see how toothbrushing can become a source of stress for the whole family.

Why does toothpaste flavour matter?

We expect children to have preferences when it comes to food. One child loves bananas, another can’t stand them. Some prefer mild flavours, while others enjoy stronger tastes.

So why wouldn’t they have preferences when it comes to toothpaste too?

After all, toothpaste goes into their mouth every morning and every night. For a child who is particularly sensitive to taste or smell, the flavour can be much more than a simple preference. It can make the difference between a toothpaste they are happy to try and one they find difficult to tolerate.

A strong mint may feel overwhelming. A very sweet or recognisable fruit flavour might be equally difficult. Finding a gentler flavour that your child is happy to have in their mouth can help remove one of the barriers to brushing.

What if no obvious flavour works?

That question was part of the thinking behind one of our most unusual toothpastes: Secret Formula.

Rather than tasting distinctly of one particular food or sweet treat, Secret Formula is a carefully created blend of favourite flavours, designed to have broad appeal without an obvious flavour association.

It took years to perfect, with testing involving some of our most taste-sensitive users.

Like our other BuddiesForLife toothpastes, it’s a smooth, low-foaming, sensory-friendly gel with the recommended amount of fluoride, created for children who may find conventional toothpaste difficult to tolerate.

But Secret Formula won’t be right for every child either. Because when it comes to taste, there really is no one-size-fits-all answer.

So how do you know which toothpaste to choose?

The simple answer is: sometimes you need to try them.

Rather than buying full-size products only to discover that the flavour isn’t right, our Brushing Breakthrough Kit gives you the opportunity to explore our different sensory-friendly toothpaste flavours and discover which your child prefers.

The kit also includes one of our ultra-soft toothbrushes, with a small brush head and thousands of soft microfilaments, so you can explore whether changing the feel of the toothbrush makes a difference too.