Child Dental Hygiene: Top Tips

As a dentist, we often get asked about a child’s dental hygiene and oral care. What is the best age to start brushing? When should a child brush independently? When should they visit a dentist? Here are some useful tips to help maintain your child’s dental health:

1. As soon as your baby’s first milk tooth appears, start brushing it with fluoride toothpaste to prevent decay. At this stage, brushing is done by the parent.
2. Children can use a fluoride toothpaste containing 1,350–1,500 ppm, but they should be supervised until age seven to ensure they don’t swallow the toothpaste.
3. For children under three, only a smear of toothpaste is needed, while children aged three to six should use a pea-sized amount.
4. Brush your child’s teeth or have them brushed by an adult at least twice a day, including just before bedtime.
5. Encourage your child to spit out excess toothpaste rather than swallowing it; avoid excessive rinsing immediately after brushing to maintain fluoride benefits.
6. By age seven or eight, your child should ideally start brushing independently, though supervision is still advised to ensure they brush effectively for two minutes.
7. Choose a toothbrush and toothpaste that your child likes to make brushing more enjoyable and encourage good habits.

Taking your child to the dentist:

When? When the first milk teeth appear.

Why then? Early visits help your child become familiar with the environment and the dentist, prevent decay, and allow for early detection of any oral health issues.

Make dental visits fun and positive to ease any anxiety your child may hav