Birth to 3 Years Old
Once your child’s first tooth has made its way through, it’s time to start a brushing routine. You can sit them on your lap so it’s easier to get to their mouth (and stop them wriggling!).
Children under three should only use a smear of kids’ toothpaste, moving onto a pea-sized amount when they’re over three years old. Choose a small soft head toothbrush and a specially developed kids’ toothpaste to help ensure their teeth are protected.
Once that first tooth comes through, it’s also time to book a visit to the dentist. Regular check-ups will help make sure everything is growing the way it should. And as tooth decay in children can happen faster with milk teeth, it will give your dentist the chance to spot any possible problems before any damage is done.
From 3 to 6 Years Old
By age three, a complete set of milk teeth should be in place, helping shape their mouth for permanent teeth and even guiding them into position. Still, it will be a while yet until any of these precious milk teeth begin to fall out, and their permanent teeth appear. Keeping this first set healthy is key to paving the way for their permanent teeth to come through straight and to stay strong once they do.
Once your baby becomes a toddler, they might want to try brushing their teeth themselves. If you’re comfortable, feel free to let them have a go. You can also show them how you brush your teeth so that they get the hang of things.
To start teeth brushing, get your child to move their kids’ toothbrush in small circular motions, making sure they cover every tooth and spit the toothpaste out afterwards. There is no need to rinse out with water as this will wash away the essential fluoride.
Always supervise your child’s brushing at this age and it’s good to have a check over and brush them again yourself as a parent, whilst praising them for the good job they are doing.