If you do use toothpaste, it may be best to choose one without fluoride until your child is able to rinse and spit. Although fluoride offers benefits for teeth (see below), it can be harmful when taken in excess. (Consult your dentist or other health care professional about the appropriate use of fluoride toothpaste.)
Brush your child’s teeth at least twice a day. Experts have given various recommendations on the correct brushing motions – up and down, back and forth, or in circles – but they agree that it is important to clean thoroughly all surfaces and between the teeth.
Where the teeth have not erupted, gently brush the gums or wipe them with a soft, clean cloth or cotton pad.
Can my toddler brush her teeth by herself?
Although you should encourage your toddler’s interest in participating in brushing, remember that she lacks the control and focus to brush without help.
At about 2 years of age, your child should be capable of learning to rinse and spit after brushing. Rinsing removes food residue that has been loosened by brushing. Rinsing also helps prevent the child from swallowing toothpaste, which is particularly important if it is fluoridated. But keep in mind that your toddler may not yet have developed adequate control of the swallowing reflex.
Even when your child is able to do most of the brushing, you should continue to help until she is at least 7 years old.
Do I have to floss my toddler’s teeth?
Experts differ as to whether it is best to start flossing your toddler’s teeth as soon as there is a full primary set, or rather to wait until a child can manage with her own small hands. In any case, you will need to supervise for a few years.
First Toothbrushes
If your child is accustomed to getting their gums ‘brushed’, you can use a toothbrush when the first tooth appears. Or you may want to gently rub the tooth with a soft, clean cloth or cotton bud, moving onto a toothbrush when they have two or three teeth.
Top Tooth Brushing Tips
- Use a soft, baby toothbrush
- Squeeze a pea-sized smear of baby toothpaste onto the brush
- Using small, circular movements, brush the sides of the teeth and between the teeth. When the back teeth appear, brush the biting surfaces
- Always check if there are any new teeth to clean
- Remember to brush gently – your child has tender gums
- Use specialist baby toothpaste until your child is two years old
