The Best Toddler Toothbrushes, Ranked According to How Long My Kid Will Actually Keep One in His Mouth

Ages 3+

Value: 17/20
Functionality: 19/20
Quality: 19/20
Aesthetics: 19/20
Fun factor: 19/20
Total: 93/100

It’s not hyperbole to say that this toothbrush changed my life (or at the very least, my evenings). Gone were the power struggles, the wrestling with my child and the screaming (me, not him). The first few times we tested out this puppy, my son not only brushed his teeth for the entire length of time, but he kept going. The easy-to-grasp handle is customizable with eight different stickers (in case you haven’t heard, toddlers love being in control, so they’ll likely get a kick out of choosing a design) so this one scores big on fun even before the brushing begins. And boy, does it brush—with over 500 strokes per second and two power modes, even if your kid does a bad job, you’ll still probably get a good review from the dentist (Philips claims that the brush is 75 percent more effective than manual toothbrushes). The rechargeable brush boasts a 14-day battery life and plays a little jingle every thirty seconds before shutting off automatically after two minutes. There’s also a very cool-sounding app that we haven’t tried (things have been going so well, I don’t want to jinx it!). The app syncs with your kid's toothbrush and helps them learn about oral care through play (i.e., a cartoon’s mouth with dirty teeth that your kid “cleans” as she’s working on her own teeth and a coaching feature that allows you to work up to two minutes). The app also allows you to keep track of brushing time so you can see how long your child really brushed their teeth when you’re not around (a great feature for older kids). At $50 (plus any replacement heads that will set you back $16 for an eight-pack), this one is definitely an investment, although it’s worth noting that it comes with a two year warranty and the brand also lets you test it out for 90 days for a full refund.

Ages 18 months+

Value: 19/20
Functionality: 19/20
Quality: 19/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Fun factor: 16/20
Total: 91/100

Let’s say that your toddler lets you put a toothbrush in their mouth...that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s actually going to get the job done (i.e., get rid of plaque and build-up). I was skeptical that a non-electric toothbrush would actually be able to, well, do much of anything but I was pleasantly surprised with this brightly-colored cleaner. Thanks to a triple-angle brush head, every side of the tooth gets the attention it deserves. The handle is easy-to-hold and soft, and there’s also a suction cup base which minimizes instances of the brush falling into the sink or onto the floor (three cheers for less bending down on mom’s part). This brush was especially appreciated when my son was teething, since unlike with an electric brush, he could gnaw on this one a little to soothe his gums while brushing. And here’s another benefit to going old-school and forgoing the electrical device: there’s significantly less toothpaste foam spray all around the sink (and your clothes, your kid’s pajamas, the bathroom mirror, etc.). Cool factor: A time-to-toss indicator (when the blue bristles fade to white) lets you know when it’s time to replace the brush.

Ages 0 to 3

Value: 19/20
Functionality: 18/20
Quality: 19/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Fun factor: 16/20
Total: 90/100

This battery-powered pick comes with a few nifty features, but the number one reason why parents (and kids) will love it? The light up function. It’s slightly horrifying and oddly satisfying to see what’s really going on inside your kid’s mouth (is that a Pirate’s Booty stuck in there?) thanks to the illuminated brush head. While the vibrations are fairly gentle, there’s the option to just use the light up feature (with no vibrations) if you choose, or you can use them both together. And although the vibrations are on the softer side compared to other electrical devices on this list, makers claim their brush reduces plaque by 21 percent compared to a regular toothbrush. This one also features a suction cup and a two-minute timer (with 30-second pulses). The two different—and included—brush heads mean that parents can start using this tooth cleaner with infants (0 to 18 months) and then continue into toddlerhood (18 to 36 months). In other words, you’ll likely get way more use out of this clever pick than anything else on your baby registry. (Note: replacement heads are $16 for a pack of four.)

Ages 3+

Value: 18/20
Functionality: 18/20
Quality: 18/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Fun factor: 17/20
Total: 89/100

Considering that this is essentially a children’s version of the toothbrush I use, I wasn’t surprised that this one was a hit. I was surprised, however, at its size—it’s slightly larger than other models, meaning it may be a little trickier for younger kids to maneuver (my son struggled with the power button). And although it vibrates once every 30 seconds to let your kid know it’s time to switch sides, the toothbrush doesn’t actually turn off after two minutes—meaning that if you’re not paying close attention, your kid may end up brushing for longer (but hey, maybe that’s not such a bad thing). This one features stronger vibrations than other electrical devices on this list which may prove too intense for sensitive gums, but parents can feel confident that it gets the job done. It also comes with a 60-day money back guarantee and is available in two models—Super Tooth and Frozen (note: singing “Let It Go” while brushing is not recommended but does make the evening routine much more fun).

Ages 0 to 2

Value: 18/20
Functionality: 17/20
Quality: 18/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Fun factor: 18/20
Total: 89/100

This is the toothbrush that I wish I had known about when my son spouted his first little tooth. It’s soft enough for sensitive gums and the clever ergonomic-shaped handle is easy for small hands to grasp. While the brush head helps keep those pearly whites clean, the rounded base doubles as a teething toy (genius, right?). This curved design also solves one of the trickier issues that toddlers have when starting to brush their teeth—the wide handles mean they can’t stick the brush too far into their mouth (i.e., no more gagging). This one also scores points for the vibrant color options and the two little dots on the brush head to indicate how much toothpaste to use. Although this one goes up to 2 years old, it will definitely appeal more to younger children who are in the throes of teething. And since it comes in a set of four, it’s economical to boot.

Ages 4 weeks to 4 years

Value: 17/20
Functionality: 17/20
Quality: 18/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Fun factor: 18/20
Total: 88/100

When it comes to packaging, this sweet finger puppet brush definitely wins the award for cutest bundle. Each box comes with four colorful finger brush characters and a matching book to teach kids about “sugar bugs.” The book is adorable (“I’m MoMo the monkey, I’m funny and smart! I get the nasty bugs that make your teeth fall apart!”) and a fun way to get your child more comfortable with brushing their teeth. But for toddlers who want to do everything themselves, this might not be the best pick (the puppet is a little big to fit properly on small fingers and my kid never really got the hang of wiggling the puppet back and forth onto his teeth). Where this one scores points is with the convenience factor: The brushies are made from food-grade, dishwasher-safe silicone (i.e., no yucky mold to worry about) and can easily be tossed into a small baggie for travel (unlike a bulky electric toothbrush). I also like slipping the puppets on my finger as a follow-up or add-on to my kid’s tooth brushing routine (you know, after he’s had a go). And if your child is nervous about the whole tooth brushing thing, this package, designed by a dentist and a psychologist, could certainly be a sweet and fun way to get them on board.

Ages 3 months to 24 months

Value: 18/20
Functionality: 17/20
Quality: 17/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Fun factor: 17/20
Total: 87/100

What you see is what you get with this simple but popular toothbrush and toothpaste set (this one’s easy to find in most big grocery stores and drugstores). The small toothbrush is easy to hold, comes in a variety of colors and themes (think: Elmo, Daniel Tiger and My Little Pony) and includes a small tub of fluoride-free toothpaste. It’s no-frills, but if your child has an affinity for the character, it’s likely to be a huge hit. We had a few gagging moments with the Orajel in my house, in addition to some of the bristles being bitten off, but it’s a good basic option to have on hand and you can’t knock the budget-friendly price.