The cola flavour is fun, but does this toothpaste contain sugar? — Children's Toothpaste "Cola," 50 ml - Dentral Tra-La-La

The cola taste is there to make brushing more accepting for children; it does not mean the product is a food or a drink. In the product description, the key ingredients are calcium lactate and sodium monofluorophosphate; sugar is not listed among them. Still, if you need a full ingredient declaration, the packaging is the only source you should rely on.

No toothpaste should be eaten or drunk. The child should use a small amount, brush, spit, and rinse. A sweet-tasting paste can help with cooperation, but it does not replace the need to brush in a way that reaches all tooth surfaces. The product information describes the fluoride source as being used to help make enamel more resistant to acid attack, so the product is intended to be part of a daily oral care routine, not a snack.

If your child repeatedly wants to swallow the paste because it tastes like cola, keep the tube out of reach and supervise brushing. Try making the routine predictable: same time, same place, same clear instruction to spit. If swallowing is a regular problem, talk to a dentist.