Children's dentistry
When should I start brushing my child's teeth?
Start the moment the first tooth appears — twice a day with a soft brush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste. Do the brushing yourself until your child can manage it well, usually into primary school.
From the very first tooth
As soon as that first little tooth pokes through, it can start picking up decay — so that's when brushing begins. Twice a day, a soft baby brush, and just a smear of fluoride toothpaste for under-threes, moving up to a pea-sized blob from three to six. Make it part of the morning and bedtime rhythm from the start and it becomes something your child simply expects, not a battle.
The bedtime brush is the important one. Overnight the mouth goes quiet and dry, so anything left on the teeth has hours to do damage. Brush last thing, after the final drink, and get them to spit rather than rinse so the fluoride keeps working.
Who does the actual brushing?
Little hands can't clean thoroughly yet, no matter how proudly they try — the coordination just isn't there. So for the early years you'll want to do the brushing yourself, or closely supervise every stroke, usually until well into primary school. A handy trick is to let them have a go first, then you take a turn to finish the job properly.
If brushing turns into a wrestling match, you're in good company. Try songs, a two-minute timer, or brushing your own teeth alongside them so it feels shared. If your child's teeth are crowded or you're unsure your technique is reaching everywhere, bring them in and we'll show you on the day.
Common questions
Do I really need fluoride toothpaste for a baby?
Yes — a tiny smear is safe and it's the main thing protecting new teeth from decay. Keep the amount small, supervise so little gets swallowed, and encourage spitting rather than rinsing.
When can my child brush on their own?
Usually somewhere in primary school, once their coordination is up to it. Until then keep supervising or finishing the job — reaching the back teeth and the gumline is the part children most often miss.