Red and swollen: Teeth that are just coming through put a lot of strain on the gums. And these are often particularly sensitive in children anyway. A child’s toothbrush in particular should therefore not have sharp edges or pointed bristles that could cause additional irritation or injury.
The good news: The majority of children’s toothbrushes are convincing in this regard. The magazine “Öko-Test” took a close look at 18 models (issue 9/2024). And they did it literally: the testers examined the ends of the bristles under a special microscope.
What they found: In eight toothbrushes, at least 70 percent of the bristles are well rounded, which earns them a “very good” rating in this test. Six other brushes are considered “good” in this respect.
“Öko-Test” could not evaluate two brushes
But two toothbrushes pose a problem for the eco-testers: their bristles are particularly thin – and therefore so atypical that they cannot be assessed according to the classic evaluation criteria. The testers report that they requested evidence of the condition of the bristle ends from the manufacturers. But: “Unfortunately, we did not receive sufficient evidence,” they regret.
This resulted in points being deducted. One of the brushes with thin bristles received a “satisfactory” rating, the worst mark in the test. The other was also considered “unassessable” overall, because “Öko-Test” was unable to assess another point for this model – the bristles on the brush head.
Bend is an advantage, cartoon figure grip is a disadvantage
So it all depends on the bristles – but not only that: With a good toothbrush, every corner of the mouth should be easily accessible. The brush head should therefore be slightly angled. Most of the brushes in the “Öko-Test” have this bend, but four models do not have it – points deducted.
What the testers criticize about a brush with a cartoon character handle: The bulky figure means that only a very short handle is left for a child’s hand. This can make brushing teeth more difficult.
These are the prize winners
Good news: Pollutants are not an issue in this test – all measurements are unremarkable. And so in the end, seven toothbrushes received the top rating of “very good” and another seven received the rating of “good”.
Parents don’t have to spend a lot on test-winning products. The following products rated “very good” are sold in a double pack and cost just 43 cents per brush: “Dentalux Kids, soft” (Lidl), Dontodent Kids toothbrushes for milk teeth, soft” (Dm), “Tabaluga toothbrush for children, extra soft” (Budni/Edeka/Netto) and the “Today Dent Kids with suction cup” (Rewe/Penny).