Brushing and Flossing Guide

  • Once their teeth start showing through their gums, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush their teeth twice a day (you can even start before their teeth come in to get them used to the feeling).
  • Keep a toothbrush on the changing table or near the high chair to make brushing their teeth and gums easy to remember.
  • Until they turn three, you can use a small dab of fluoridated toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
  • After they turn three, you can increase that to a pea-sized dollop.
  • Fluoride strengthens enamel, making teeth more resistant to cavities.
  • When they have the motor skills to do so, they should brush on their own. When this step happens will vary from kid to kid, but it will be somewhere around age seven. If they can tie their shoes, they can brush their teeth on their own.
  • When their toothbrush’s bristles get worn down, replace it with a new one (every three to six months).
  • Once their teeth start touching each other, start flossing their teeth once a day to clean in between, where the brush can’t reach.