Be a brush buddy 

Helping your child maintain a happy smile means being a brush buddy until they're ready to brush on their own.

Kids often need assistance with brushing until they've developed the necessary manual dexterity, usually around the age of 8. A good rule of thumb for judging their readiness is whether they can tie their shoelaces by themselves.

Until then, here are some tips to ensure you’re supporting your child in keeping their smile strong and healthy.

Tips for cleaning your baby's teeth

• Start cleaning your baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.
• Use a damp gauze or a soft, moistened face washer wrapped around your finger to gently clean each tooth, front and back.
• Aim to clean their teeth at least twice a day, especially after meals and right before bedtime.

Tips for cleaning older children's teeth

• For a good view of all tooth surfaces, try sitting your child on your lap or stand behind them, gently tilting their head back.
• Use a small, soft toothbrush to gently brush all tooth surfaces.
• Start using toothpaste around 18 months of age, with just a pea-sized amount of low fluoride toothpaste.
• Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste afterward without rinsing with water or swallowing it.

These practices will help build good oral hygiene habits that last a lifetime.

Additional information

• Alternatives for children with a disability and/or sensory issues (a Smiling Starts video).
• Brushing children’s teeth (a picture guide by Raising Children Network).
• Begin brushing early (a Dental Health Services WA guide).

For more nutrition and oral health information, see these links on the Raising Children Network website:

• Babies, breastfeeding, bottle feeding and solids (0 to 12 months).
• Toddler nutrition and fitness (1 to 3 years).
• Preschooler nutrition and fitness (3 to 5 years).

Next: When little teeth peek through, a dental check is due!

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