Brushing your teeth is important to remove bacteria and plaque to prevent both tooth decay and gum disease. Tooth brushing from an early age is an important part of developing a good routine. As soon as teeth being to erupt they should be wiped over with a damp cloth or soft toothbrush.
Teeth should be brushed twice a day, morning and night in children.
Tips to look after your baby’s teeth
- Avoid sugary drinks including juice, cordial and soft drinks in children
- Do not put anything sweet on your child’s dummy
- Don’t put baby to bed with a bottle. The formula will sit around their teeth and can lead to tooth decay.
- Before teeth arrive, wipe gums over after feeds with a damp, clean cloth
- From the first tooth, wipe teeth over with a soft cloth or tooth brush with no toothpaste, just use water
- Start using a pea-sized quality of children’s low fluoride toothpaste from 18 months to 5 years
- Children 6 and older can use a small, pea-sized, quantity of adult toothpaste.
- Teach children to spit out toothpaste
