Childrens Dental Care

Children’s Dental Care

Building healthy habits from the very first tooth

A healthy smile starts early. As soon as a child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to begin brushing and making oral care part of their daily routine. Establishing good habits during childhood helps protect teeth and gums and supports lifelong oral health.

Why is dental care important for children?

Children can experience tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath just like adults. Baby teeth also play an important role in helping children eat, speak clearly, and guide adult teeth into the correct position.

Creating positive brushing habits early helps children feel confident with oral care and can reduce the risk of dental problems later in life, setting them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

When should you start cleaning your child’s mouth?

Before teeth appear

You can begin by cleaning baby’s gums from birth by gently wiping them with a clean, damp cloth after feeds. This helps remove milk residue and helps babies get used to mouth cleaning.

Who should brush a child’s teeth?

Young children do not have the manual skills or concentration needed to clean teeth effectively. A child’s carer or parent should brush their teeth until at least the age of 7 years.

Children can begin to practice brushing themselves as they grow, but an adult should always finish brushing to make sure teeth are properly cleaned.

How often should babies and children’s teeth be cleaned?

Once teeth erupt, they should be brushed:

·       Twice a day,

·       Once in the morning,

·       Once before bedtime (this is especially important).

Making brushing fun and relaxed can help children build positive habits. Singing songs, brushing together, or turning brushing into a game can help encourage cooperation.

Safe and effective brushing positions

Good positioning helps you see the teeth clearly, and ensures safety, when you’re brushing for a child.

For babies and young children, you can try:

·       Sitting them on your lap facing away from you, with their head resting against your chest

·       Standing or sitting behind them while they tilt their head back slightly

·       Supporting the chin gently to help you see the teeth

Choose a position where you feel comfortable and the child feels secure. Always brush slowly and gently.

Choosing the right toothpaste

Using the correct amount of fluoride toothpaste helps strengthen teeth while keeping brushing safe.

Once children can spit (usually around age 3), encourage them to spit out excess toothpaste but avoid rinsing with water, as this helps fluoride stay on the teeth for longer.

Supporting brushing as children grow

0-3 years

The first baby tooth usually appears around 6–8 months, although this can vary. Signs that teeth may be erupting can include increased drooling, chewing behaviour, sleeping disturbances, increased irritability, and loss of appetite.

Once teeth appear:

·       Brush twice daily using a small, soft toothbrush,

·       Use a mild flavoured or unflavoured age-appropriate toothpaste,

·       Use only a smear of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice),

·       Parents or carers should carry out brushing.

·       Keep brushing calm and consistent

·       Introducing brushing early helps children accept it as part of their daily routine

By 24 months all baby teeth have often erupted, although this can vary.

Ages 3–6 years

Children often want to become more independent at this stage.

·       Let them have a turn brushing first

·       Always brush their teeth again afterwards

·       Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste

·       Continue brushing twice daily

Taking time to help a child brush properly helps build confidence and good habits for later.

Around 6 years and older

At around age 6, the first adult teeth usually appear behind the baby teeth. These teeth have deep grooves that can trap plaque and need careful cleaning.

Children can start becoming more independent with brushing, but most still need supervision and support.

Cleaning between teeth

Cleaning between teeth is usually introduced once most adult teeth have appeared (often around ages 12–13), but it can be introduced earlier if children feel confident and are able to do so.

Starting this habit early really sets children up for life, as it helps them learn the importance of caring for the spaces between their teeth before problems develop, and it instils a lifelong habit of looking after all their teeth, not just the ones they can see.

Healthy daily habits that protect children’s teeth

Simple daily routines can greatly reduce the risk of tooth decay:

·       Encourage regular meals and limit snacking

·       Offer water as the main drink between meals

·       Limit sugary foods and drinks

·       Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

·       Brush systematically so no tooth surfaces are missed

·       Angle bristles gently towards the gumline to help keep gums healthy

·       Children often copy adult behaviour, brushing together can be highly motivating

Supporting your child’s routine

Caring for children’s teeth can sometimes feel challenging, especially when routines are new. Small, consistent daily habits make a big difference over time. Staying calm, predictable, and positive helps children accept it as a normal part of their day.

Caring for children’s teeth

Tools designed for smaller mouths can make brushing easier and more comfortable for children at different stages of development.

Mini Extra Soft

The tapered mini brush head has extra soft filaments for gentle cleaning and can be used from first tooth up to the age of 3 years.

Kids Toothbrush

For children aged 3 and above, featuring a colourful print and a smaller, easy‑to‑hold handle to make brushing more fun and engaging.

Baby Daily Toothpaste

Unflavoured, low‑foam, SLS-free, vegan, fluoride toothpaste (1000 ppm) for babies. The gentle taste improves acceptance, and the no‑foam formula helps parents see while brushing. Ideal for little ones with sensory sensitivities.

Daily Kids Toothpaste

Mild mint, low‑foam, SLS‑free, vegan, fluoride toothpaste (1000 ppm) for young children up to around age 6. Gentle flavour to avoid the ‘spicy’ taste many kids dislike.

FAQs About Children’s Dental Care

What’s the difference between milk teeth, baby teeth, primary teeth, and deciduous teeth?

There is no difference. These are all names for the same thing - the first set of teeth that you develop.

Why are baby teeth important if they fall out anyway?

Baby teeth help children eat comfortably, support speech development, and hold space for adult teeth. Keeping baby teeth healthy can help prevent pain, infection, and unnecessary dental treatment.

How many baby teeth do children have?

Most children develop 20 baby teeth, which usually all appear by around 2 years of age.

How many adult teeth do people have?

Most adults have up to 32 permanent teeth.

When do adult teeth start appearing?

The first adult teeth erupt at around age 6–7.

How much toothpaste should children use?

• 0–3 years: smear (grain of rice size)
• 3+ years: pea-sized amount

Children should spit out toothpaste once able to and should not rinse after brushing.