Tübingen – October 29, 2026 -- Children who brush twice a day from their first milk tooth get one of the most regular taste experiences of early childhood, and many kids' toothpastes are deliberately intensely sweet. A dental prevention researcher now asks whether that daily routine could influence which flavors children prefer later.
Three learning factors meet at the bathroom sink
Research on "flavour learning" indicates that taste preferences begin forming during pregnancy and in the first years of life, with repeated taste exposure playing an important role. Toothpaste is used twice daily and stays in the mouth for a while during brushing. Parents often add praise, attention and playful rituals.
That combines repetition, intense sweetness and positive emotional reinforcement, three factors that can support learning. The release frames this as a question rather than a proven effect.
Prof. Rainer Hahn wants less sweetness in children's toothpaste
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rainer Hahn holds the chair for dental prevention at Danube Private University in Krems, Austria. He points out that parents increasingly avoid excessive sweetness in children's food, yet children may meet intense sweetness every day while brushing. In his view, product developers should take into account how formative the first years are for taste preferences and for the oral microbiome.
His approach calls for less intense sweetness, deliberate handling of the child's microbiome, and dental care that protects against cavities while supporting healthy development from the start.
Earlier studies link childhood experience to taste preference
A 2002 experiment with 83 children aged four to seven found that early feeding experiences were linked to later preferences for sour flavors. Family sweetening habits were also associated with the sweetness intensity children preferred.
A 2015 review found that children on average prefer higher sweetness than adults and often react more strongly against bitter tastes. A 2013 review on toothpaste development noted that children often favor milder flavors and less foam than adults. Age-appropriate flavoring and pleasant use matter for acceptance and regular brushing.
Microbiome research points to probiotic toothpastes
Hahn also points to microbiome-focused research. A 2024 systematic review of 14 clinical studies described favorable changes in cavity-related parameters for certain bacterial strains, particularly Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus. A 2025 review of lactic acid bacteria toothpastes covered twelve randomized studies, four of them in the meta-analysis. It reported improvements in plaque index and bleeding on probing.
Hahn founded the company Cumdente, whose brands include ApaCare and OraLactin. He practices in Tübingen and Kitzbühel and received the Miller Prize of the German Society for Dental, Oral and Craniomandibular Sciences (DGZMK) in 1996.