Better Brushing for Kids

Since inadequate, rushed brushing is one of the chief causes of early-childhood cavities, friendly familiar character brushes encourage children to develop regular oral care habits. The FireFly family from Buena Park, Calif.-based Dr. Fresh adds pizzazz to this routine with brushes that light up at the touch of a button and flash for one minute -- the time dentists say is necessary to thoroughly brush each row of teeth. Models kids can choose from are Original FireFly for a suggested 99 cents; Baby FireFly, which is sized for baby and toddler mouths, comes in pink and blue, and retails for a suggested $2.49; Barbie, whose light blinks a sparkly pink to match the iconic fashion doll’s dress and retails for a suggested $2.99; Spider-Man for a suggested $2.99; Hot Wheels for a suggested $2.99; and Peanuts, featuring the beloved Snoopy character and retailing for a suggested $2.49. The soft, high-quality DuPont bristles featured in all of the models won’t cause microscopic cuts to children’s delicate gums, and the light stops functioning after about three months, indicating that it’s time to buy a replacement brush. For more information, visit www.fireflytoothbrush.com.