Squigle® Toothpaste

Squigle® toothpaste is a wonderful toothpaste for children who are picky or fussy brushers because of flavor or texture. Squigle® is very gentle, safe, has a mild mint flavor, and has no detergent (so it doesn’t foam up). This is Dr. Casey’s go-to product for children with sensory issues as well! It’s a couple dollars more than regular toothpaste, but it’s an awesome product! Click here.

Act®Fluoride Rinse

Act® rinse is a fluoride-containing rinse that is an important tool in Dr. Casey’s cavity-fighting arsenal. This is a nice supplement to toothpaste in children who aren’t great at flossing. Even though young children may not be capable of swishing and spitting, parents can dip the toothbrush in the Act and do a quick swipe of the back teeth to let a little fluoride soak in between the teeth where brushing is difficult. The bubblegum flavor is well tolerated by most children as well. Click here. For older kids who want a more adult-appropriate rinse, Crest makes a good product that can be found here.

Electric Toothbrushes

Dr. Casey is a big fan of electric toothbrushes. Many kids are electronically-minded, and he finds that compliance and length of brushing increases with their use. Electric toothbrushes are able to remove a lot more plaque than traditional brushing, and these are highly recommended for patients with braces, orthodontic spacer appliances, or patients with a high risk of cavities. Dr. Casey has identified two high-quality, affordable products for you to try at home. Patients 3-7 years old, click here. Patients 8 and older, click here.

Lanolin Cream (For Chapped Lips)

Many kids suffer from lip-smacking habits, especially during the colder winter months. Traditional chap stick doesn’t hold up well to the constant licking around these lips, and instead dries out the lips and skin leaving a bright red irritated ring. Lanolin cream is a product used by nursing mothers that works far better to moisturize and protect the lips without drying them out. You can get it at any drug store, or here on Amazon.

Waterpik®for Braces

For parents who know they will have several years of children in braces ahead of them, a Waterpik® can be cheap insurance to blast out plaque between orthodontic brackets. You can fill the hopper with water, but a mixture of water and Act Fluoride rinse can be a great idea as well. Click here.

Reminder-Tasting Nail Polish

Mavala® is a brand of nail polish available on Amazon that is used to remind patients with thumb or finger habits, who are trying to quit. Many of these children suck their fingers at night when they are going to sleep, and the icky bitter taste of Mavala® can help remind them to stop. This doesn’t work for our more “stubborn” patients, as some of them will suck right through it. But it’s a great product to try early on. Click here.

TGuard® Thumb Sucking Bracelet

The TGuard® is a great product for older patients who still suck their thumb and are ready to quit, but they need help kicking the habit. Dr. Casey usually recommends the TGuard® for patients who are at least 6 years old, want to quit, and predominately suck their thumb at night while sleeping. This simple plastic “hitch hikers” glove slides over the thumb and snaps in place with a bracelet. The bracelet can only be placed and cut off by the parent, so it gives parents a lot of power to enforce quitting the habit. The product is a little more expensive, but can help prevent further bite problems and additional orthodontic treatment in the future. Click here.