Toothpaste- is there a difference and rant at changing formulations

[Pinklilly]

Hi all I have a 2 year old (3 in August) who has happily been brushing her teeth twice a day. We use aqua fresh age 0-2 toothpaste but it seems they have changed the formula and now she really finds the taste intolerable and it’s making brushing a challenge. I’m so annoyed about it! I have tried persevere but tbh it’s frustrating when something that wasn’t a challenge and was happily done is now a battle and in a world where toddlers battle endlessly I can’t be taking on more!

i am looking for another toothpaste but I don’t want fruit flavours I only want mint as I know other children who struggled to use adult toothpastes because they weren’t flavoured. I can’t seem to find mint toothpaste in her age and wondered is there a significant difference in toothpaste that is for age 3-5/6? Could we use that instead as I noticed there are some mint flavours. Does anyone know if there is a difference?
or does anyone know a brand of mint toothpaste for her age?

Have they changed the formula though?

I haven’t noticed….perhaps your 2yr old is being a 2yr old and has just realised they can object?

Hey Duggee’s toothbrush song carried us through this phase four times 😂….

@Bearintheredhat It’s definitely changed- it used to be solid and now it’s translucent blue. So it has changed and tbh she didn’t even really notice the physical change but she noted the taste change then I looked at it and realised it had changed. The packaging is all the same!

Yes the formula has changed. The 0% artificial .... in the corner is new stock and I also know a family having the same problem.

You might find someone with old stock - without the 0% artificial... Perhaps a chemist with slow footfall.

The difference between the different ages on the toothpastes is the amount of fluoride in them. Fluoride isn't recommended before two years old as they don't have great control of their swallow and can end up with aesthetic issues in their adult teeth if they swallow toothpaste at this age. If she has good control and doesn't tend to swallow it I would switch her to your normal family/adult toothpaste but only use a tiny amount. I'm talking take the lid off and dab the toothbrush off the top and that's it!

In the UK its advised to use a fluoride toothpaste from when the teeth first appear with minimum 1000ppm fluoride.

I think under age 3 you use a smear of toothpaste and 3 and over you use a pea sized amount.

Nhs advice:

Children under 3 years old should brush twice daily, with a smear of toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride.

Children between 3 and 6 years old should brush at least twice daily with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1,000ppm fluoride.

Children over 7 and adults should brush at least twice daily with a toothpaste containing 1,350-1,500ppm fluoride.

Both adults and children should spit toothpaste out instead of rinsing with water after brushing.

Flavours aren't too much of an issue
Mint burns my mouth so I use a berry one - the majority of older children's toothpaste have the same flouride as adults one. Currently using Sainsburys berry

I guess what I am saying is it's not always the fact they haven't grown up using mint. I didn't realise it wasn't normal it burned!

Mild mint, 79p

https://www.superdrug.com/toiletries/toothpastes/kids-toothpaste/superdrug-kids-procare-0-2-toothpaste-75ml/p/789142?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclsrc=aw.ds&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADp4mz94FXTaV07cou-I7Kfe2WK6U&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7ebvxpDNhgMVq5VQBh3gQgbjEAQYAiABEgL--vDD_BwE

Mild mint £1

https://www.boots.com/boots-kids-mint-toothpaste-0-2yrs-75ml-10257639?awaid=2041&utmsource=redbrain&utmmmedium=shopping&utmcampaign=css&gbraid=0AAAAADA7QQJhKL9MVkDnBLZGWOnIb3AkY&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7ebvxpDNhgMVq5VQBh3gQgbjEAQYCiABEgKHKvD_BwE

Ah I see! I should have specified that I'm in Ireland and the advice is slightly different.

Looks like fluoride is added to the water in Ireland which might be why you're advised not to use a fluoride toothpaste in younger children. I'm in Scotland and they don't add fluoride so we use fluoride toothpaste.

Spot on!

Check if the toothpaste contains SLS, many people are allergic and it causes an unpleasant burning feeling.

Hi everyone thank you so much for replying and also confirming that the formulation has changed! Thank you for sharing the Superdrug and boots one too , I never even thought of them as I buy toothpaste as part of the weekly grocery shop!
appreciate the explanation regarding fluoride content too. Thank you all.
i will pop to chemist and see if they have old stock until she’s 3 that should get us through. Otherwise will go to boots/ Superdrug.

There's no issue with using an alternative flavoured toothpaste, they are available in adult toothpastes too. Take it from someone whose teen has wrecked her teeth, don't do anything that will make brushing an issue. If they want unicorn sparkly, bubblegum toothpaste - then go with it, this is not a hill to die on.

No help but I sympathise with her. The adult one has changed too. I thought I was going mad about the colour change but it seems not!

I use 3-5 sometimes for my 2 year old, I'm sure it's fine

I realise this is a few months behind, but I am suffering with the same issue! My 2 yr old doesn’t like the new formula at all! I’ve worked out the old formula has the blue 0-2 sign on it, whereas the new one has a white sign with 0-2.

I’ve literally gone to 3 different supermarkets, Superdrug, boots and can’t find any of the old formula toothpaste 😩 have you found an alternative that your little one would use?

Hi @HA2023 unfortunately I never found any old stock.

i just kept reiterating to my daughter that it had changed and it was good for her teeth. She got a sticker every time she brushed- and after a bit she just stopped complaining!

im sorry I don’t have any options to share but perhaps a tactic like that might work

Having the exact same problem and my son who never had an issue brushing his teeth is screaming and crying and it's traumatic now. Tried different ones with the same outcome.