Answered on 11th January 2016
Proper brushing can start even before teeth begin to appear. You can brush your baby’s gums with a soft brush or some clean muslin wrapped around your finger. Once they have their milk teeth, brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for two minutes.
For children under three, you can use a low-fluoride toothpaste, containing about 1000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. The amount should be written on the packaging or you can check with your dentist. Use a dot of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice or a thin smear.
Here are some tips for when brushing children’s teeth.
Children between the ages of three and six can use toothpaste containing between 1350 and 1500 ppm fluoride. Check the packaging or speak with your dentist.
Children between three and six should only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Make sure they spit out any excess and don’t eat or lick the toothpaste.
Brush once before bed and one other time during the day for at least two minutes. An egg timer can make it a bit more fun.
Use a mirror to show your child where they are brushing and encourage them to watch you.
Replace the brush every three months or when bristles start to spread, whichever is sooner.
Supervise your child brushing their teeth until the age of seven or eight.
After this age it is a good idea to check your child’s brushing routine every now and again to make sure they are cleaning correctly.
