It’s never too early to encourage healthy dental care and build good dental habits in kids. Childrens’ teeth are vulnerable to decay, cavities, and bad bacteria as soon as they erupt, which can result in tooth loss. Hence, it is vital to establish good dental health habits as early as possible to prevent long-term issues, and a regular tooth cleaning routine is essential for great dental health.

Tooth Brushing Ages for Kids

6-9 Months

You need to start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they get their first milk tooth, which is typically when your child is at around 6-9 months of age. You should brush with fluoride toothpaste when the first tooth erupts as fluoride will strengthen enamel and fight bad bacteria to prevent tooth decay. Use a lower-strength toothpaste of at least 1,000ppm fluoride until age six.

1-3 Years

From ages one to three, brush your child’s teeth with a soft-bristled child’s toothbrush and a small smear of fluoride toothpaste. Brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes – once in the morning and once before bed. Make sure they spit out the paste but don’t rinse with loads of water as this washes away the impact of the fluoride.

4-6 Years

Between the ages of four and six, your child should be able to brush their own teeth under your supervision so that they can learn and practise brushing. You can brush their teeth again if they struggle to brush properly. Once aged four, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Remember to replace your child’s toothbrush every three to four months when it gets worn and frayed.

7-8 Years

By the age of seven, your child can transfer to an adult toothbrush and brush completely independently, although it is recommended to double check that they are brushing effectively every now and then. They can now also use a slightly stronger toothpaste that is 1,350-1,500 ppm fluoride.

Kid’s Tooth Brushing Technique

Use this brushing technique to clean your child’s teeth and then encourage them to use the same technique to brush their own teeth for two minutes, twice a day.

How to Encourage Tooth Brushing in Your Kids

It can be difficult to encourage your kids to brush their teeth. There are, however, a few things you can do to maintain healthy habits.

Children’s Dentistry at Bright & White

We provide dentistry services for children as we believe that it is highly important to learn about good oral hygiene from an early age. We aim to make each visit to the dentist child-orientated, helping children to avoid the fears associated with dentistry in the future.

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