Why Tidalove Added a Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Tablet Option

What We Learned About Sensory Needs — and What Research Supports

Tidalove started with toothpaste tablets as an alternative to traditional toothpaste.
They weren’t created as a kids product, and they weren’t designed specifically for people with sensory sensitivities.

Most people originally found Tidalove because they were looking for something different from conventional toothpaste—less mess, a simpler format, and a more intentional daily habit.

But as the brand grew, we began to notice something we hadn’t expected.

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What We Started to Notice as a Brand

Over time, a clear pattern emerged.

Many people choosing toothpaste tablets weren’t only motivated by sustainability or convenience. A significant number were using tablets because traditional toothpaste made brushing uncomfortable for them.

Again and again, we heard similar themes:

• Taste felt too strong or lingered too long

• Foam felt overwhelming

• Texture changes from one use to the next were unsettling

In other words, the challenge wasn’t brushing itself—it was the sensory experience of brushing.

Toothpaste tablets weren’t designed for this purpose initially, but they unintentionally reduced some of those sensory triggers by offering:

• Lower foam

• A consistent texture

• The same experience every time

This was something we learned not from a product brief, but from watching how people actually used our product.

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From Sensory-Sensitive Adults to Kids

As more families began using Tidalove, another realization followed naturally.

Parents were using toothpaste tablets with their children.

That raised an important question for us:
If toothpaste tablets were helping sensory-sensitive adults, wouldn’t children—who experience brushing even more intensely—benefit from a product designed with their stage of development in mind?

Children experience toothbrushing as a fully sensory activity. Taste, smell, texture, movement, and timing all happen at once. For some kids, especially those with sensory sensitivities, this can quickly become overwhelming.

At the same time, many children are still learning to spit consistently. That stage alone often leads families to think more carefully about toothpaste options.

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Why We Added a Fluoride-Free Option

Tidalove originally launched with fluoride toothpaste tablets, and fluoride remains an important and effective option for cavity prevention.

Adding a fluoride-free option was not about replacing fluoride.
It was about offering flexibility for families during certain stages.

Some families prefer a fluoride-free option:

• While children are still learning to spit

• When brushing feels sensory-overwhelming

• When parents want a simpler starting point

Today, fluoride and fluoride-free toothpaste tablets exist side by side in our product line—so families can choose what fits their child right now.

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What Research Tells Us About Sensory Sensitivities and Toothbrushing

What we observed aligns closely with existing research.

Studies in pediatric dentistry and sensory processing show that individuals with sensory sensitivities—including those on the autism spectrum—often experience difficulty with toothbrushing due to heightened responses to taste, texture, foam, and oral stimulation.

Research suggests that the challenge is frequently sensory overload, not a lack of understanding or willingness to brush. Multiple sensory inputs happening at once can make brushing stressful, particularly for children.

These studies also highlight that simplified, predictable routines can help sensory-sensitive individuals maintain daily oral-care habits more consistently.

This helps explain why toothpaste tablets—by reducing excess foam and offering a consistent texture—are often preferred by people with sensory sensitivities, even when they were not originally designed for that purpose.

Guidance summarized by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry also recognizes that toothpaste use should align with a child’s developmental stage, including their ability to spit and tolerate brushing comfortably.

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Why Toothpaste Tablets Can Support Sensory Needs

Toothpaste tablets naturally support a simpler brushing experience:

• Pre-measured tablets remove guesswork

• Lower foam reduces sensory intensity

• Consistent texture creates predictability

• Same routine every day, which matters for sensory-sensitive users

For many families, sensory comfort isn’t about avoiding oral care—it’s about making daily habits sustainable.

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What This Changed for Us

We didn’t set out to build a sensory-focused product line.
We learned about sensory needs by listening, observing, and adjusting.

Seeing how toothpaste tablets were already helping sensory-sensitive adults made it clear that children needed an option designed with their stage and experience in mind.

That insight led us to create a kids-friendly, fluoride-free toothpaste tablet option—not as a statement, but as a response to real-world use.

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Our Approach Moving Forward

At Tidalove, we don’t believe there’s one “right” toothpaste for every child.

Some families choose fluoride daily.
Some use fluoride-free options during early stages.
Some switch over time.

Our role isn’t to decide for families—it’s to offer thoughtful options that support real routines and real needs.

Sometimes the most meaningful product decisions aren’t part of the original plan.
They come from paying attention to how people actually live.

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References

• Schoen SA et al., Sensory Over-Responsivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

• Stein LI et al., Oral Care and Sensory Sensitivities in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pediatric Dentistry

• Guidance summarized from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)