Toothbrushing Tips

Toothbrushing is an vital part of dental health and it is important to start the toothbrushing habit early.

Choose a child-sized toothbrush with with soft round-tipped nylon bristles. Replace the toothbrush when the bristles become bend or worn, usually every two to three months or more frequently if your child wears the bristles more quickly.

Children should use adult strength fluoride toothpaste (>1000ppm F). Some of the paediatric toothpastes available have sufficient fluoride and their milder flavour can prove more popular with children who dislike strong minty flavours.

A gentle scrub technique involving very short horizontal movements is recommended. Brush the outer, inner and biting surfaces of the teeth – especially that close to the gum line. Children under 7 years may not have the manual dexterity to brush effectively and adult assistance until this age is important to ensure a thorough clean.

Children should be encouraged to spit and not rinse after brushing so that the effects of fluoride toothpaste are not diluted.

Brush twice a day – at bedtime and at one other time during the day.