Skip the scary sparkles

With Halloween candy just a day away, it's time to gear up for some serious tooth brushing!

Back when we started brushing my son's new teeth, I dutifully purchased the first name brand children's toothpaste I saw on the store shelf. It wasn't until I was home that I noticed its artificial ingredients, bright sparkly color and sickly sweet taste.

That had me scratching my head. Brushing children's teeth = good, children's toothpaste = not so good.

Then I found Tom's of Maine Natural Toothpaste for Children.

Tom's of Maine, creator of the first all-natural toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association, also offers a toothpaste designed just for the kiddos. I appreciate the gentle cleansers and the fact that Tom's of Maine discusses each ingredient at its website. My toddler loves the real strawberry flavor. As soon as he got his first taste, our brushing sessions doubled in length without complaint.

An effective kids' toothpaste free of artificial sweeteners, dyes or crazy sparkles? That's a no-brainer.

$3-4 (with or without flouride) at a store near you