Health Canada has issued an urgent nationwide recall for OraCareTM baby toothbrushes sold at Dollarama stores after discovering a critical safety defect that poses significant choking risks to infants and young children.
The recall, announced Thursday morning, affects approximately 43,700 units of the OraCareTM Baby Brush Toothbrush sold between March 2023 and June 2025 at Dollarama locations across Canada. Health officials identified that the silicone bristle head can detach from the handle during normal use, creating a serious choking hazard for babies and toddlers.
“Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using these toothbrushes and keep them away from children,” said Dr. Elaine Thompson, Health Canada’s Director of Consumer Product Safety. “The detachable parts are small enough to cause airway obstruction in young children, which can lead to severe injury or death if ingested.”
The recalled product features a blue, pink, or green handle with a small silicone head designed for infants. The toothbrushes were sold with UPC code 0667888112233 and can be identified by the OraCareTM branding on the packaging.
As of the recall date, Health Canada has received three reports of the bristle head separating from the handle during use, including one incident resulting in a child requiring emergency medical intervention after nearly choking on the detached piece.
Dollarama representatives confirmed to CO24 News that customers who purchased the affected toothbrushes can return them to any Dollarama location for a full refund, even without a receipt.
“Consumer safety is our highest priority,” said Jean Bouchard, Dollarama’s Vice President of Product Safety in a statement to CO24 Canada News. “We are working closely with Health Canada and our suppliers to ensure this situation is resolved quickly and thoroughly.”
This recall follows increased regulatory scrutiny of discount retailers across CO24 Business sectors, with consumer advocates calling for more rigorous testing of low-cost children’s products before they reach store shelves.
The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends parents inspect all children’s items regularly for potential hazards, particularly oral care products that are designed for use in a child’s mouth.
“Parents should examine children’s toothbrushes before each use by gently tugging on the bristles to ensure they’re securely attached,” advised Dr. Marian Chen, pediatric dentist at Toronto Children’s Dental Clinic. “When selecting oral care products for infants, always choose age-appropriate items from reputable manufacturers with solid safety records.”
Health Canada urges consumers who have experienced health or safety issues with this product to report incidents through their consumer product incident reporting system.
As we navigate an increasing number of product recalls affecting Canadian families, how confident can consumers truly be in the safety standards of discount store merchandise when it comes to our most vulnerable consumers?
