Looking after your child's teeth
As soon as your child’s teeth start to show, start brushing.
- Get your child into the habit of brushing twice a day – after breakfast and before bed.
- Once your child can control a pencil and begins to write (when they are about five years old), they should be able to brush their own teeth.
- You’ll need to supervise brushing until your child is about eight years old.
Regular brushing helps your child's teeth look and feel good, and also helps prevent decay and gum disease.
How to brush
- Use just a smear of fluoride toothpaste on a small, soft toothbrush if your child is under six years.
- Use a pea-sized amount if your child is six years and over.
It can be difficult to brush your toddler’s teeth – but keep trying, because healthy teeth are important to your child’s development and for the future health of their permanent teeth.
You may find it easier to stand behind your child and gently tilt their head back as you brush.
Inside and out
As soon as your child has teeth, they should be brushed.
- Brush all around the inside surfaces, where teeth meet gums, and also the top chewing surfaces.
- On the front of the teeth, use tiny circles all around the outside surfaces, close to the gums.
Spit, don’t rinse
Remember to teach your child to spit out after tooth brushing.
Don't rinse with water, because a small amount of fluoride toothpaste left around the teeth will help protect them.
Get flossing
Flossing cleans away plaque and bits of food from between your teeth and below the gum line.
It gets to places your brush can’t reach.
- A child should start flossing when two teeth touch. This usually happens when the first back teeth appear.
- To begin with, you'll have to floss your child’s teeth, but they'll eventually learn to do it for themselves.
Floss once a day.
If you're not sure how to floss, talk to your dental professional or talk to us on 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583).
Checking teeth
Gently lift your child’s top lip once a month to check inside their mouth. It’s a quick and easy way to see whether decay is present in its early, treatable stages.
- Look for white spots at the gumline, particularly on the upper front teeth.
- Also look for discoloured areas or pieces of missing teeth.
- Check that their gums look healthy, not puffy or bleeding.
Visit your dental professional if you have any concerns.
Just call 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583) if you’re unsure what to do next.
Page last updated: 16 December 2011
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