Brushing your children's teeth

How can I improve my child's oral health?

To make sure you are doing all you can to prevent tooth decay always:

• use family fluoride toothpaste
• brush your teeth twice a day; at bedtime and one other occasion as soon as teeth first erupt
• try to reduce the amount and number of times you eat sugary foods and drink
• visit a dentist regularly

Top tips for a brighter smile:

• For children, brushing with family fluoride toothpaste should start as soon as the first teeth erupt at about 6 months old
• Brush at least twice a day at bedtime and at least one other occasion
• Parents should supervise children under the age of 7 years when they brush their teeth
• Children must not eat or lick toothpaste from the tube
• Children under 3 years should use a smear of family toothpaste
• Children 3-6 years should use a pea sized amount of family toothpaste
• Children aged 7 years and over should continue to use family fluoride toothpaste
• Spit out excess toothpaste after brushing but do not rinse as this washes away the fluoride
• Adopt healthier eating practices
• Do not add any sugar to bottles or weaning foods
• From 6 months of age infants should drink from a cup and from one year, feeding from a bottle discouraged