Dominique Tillen biography
Dominique Tillen is the founder of Brush-Baby, a market leader in oral hygiene products for babies, toddlers and young children.
The company was formed after Dominique was faced with a problem shared by all parents: how to encourage your child to clean their teeth properly.
When her daughter Lulu insisted on chewing her toothbrush, she sensed the need for a soft, flexible chewable brush that would clean little teeth while massaging and soothing delicate teething gums.
Dominique, a former nurse, midwife and public health researcher, found nothing available on the market apart from gimmicks and smaller versions of adult toothbrushes.
She took expert advice from the dental profession, researched market opportunities in detail, and put her initial concepts through rigorous independent safety tests.
After a successful pilot in Hampshire and Surrey, Dominique launched the Brush-Baby Chewable Toothbrush picking up immediate interest from High Street retailers.
It is now available at Waitrose, John Lewis, TESCO, Mothercare, Sainsbury’s, baby shops, pharmacists and dentists.
“I want Brush-Baby to do good and make a difference,” says Dominique. “It has been absolutely essential to have the endorsement and backing of the dental profession. Dentists, hygienists and nurses love the Chewable Toothbrush as it is ideal for preventative help. Many were at a loss as to what to recommend to mothers. There were teethers but nothing that would specifically help with developing good, lasting oral health.”
The issue of children’s health was already a passion for Dominique before Brush-Baby. After a Masters degree in public health at the University of London, she worked as a researcher at the Institute of Child Health in London looking at the parasitical infection toxoplasmosis and its impact on children.
She believes there is a long way to go before children’s oral health standards in the UK come up to those in other countries, but thankfully perceptions are changing.
“My impression is that children’s teeth in general are not being looked after,” she says. “This issue is the Cinderella of the dental world, neglected and disadvantaged. There are a lot of techniques out there that are simply not being utilised. In countries such as Australia and the US it costs you a lot of money to look after your teeth so you are more likely to take care. However, I believe the younger generation growing up now, the next generation, do want to care for their teeth and retain lovely attractive smiles as they grow older.”
Dominique has not stopped with the Brush-Baby Chewable Toothbrush. She is launching a range of products that form an easy to follow pathway forgood oral hygiene from birth to childhood. The products include toothpaste, floss brushes and dental wipes, all designed to help prevent dental problems and promote good oral health.
An idea that started with a little girl who chewed her toothbrush is set to help millions of children improve their oral health and well-being.
For more information on Brush-Baby, visit
Note to editors
Brush-Baby provides innovative oral hygiene products for babies, toddlers and young children. We supply major retailers, dentists, pharmacies, specialist baby shops and distributors worldwide. For more information on Brush-Baby products and oral care advice, visit
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