How to Brush Children's Teeth: When to Start and How to Teach a Child

Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears. There is no need to wait until their first birthday or until they can hold a toothbrush. At first, parents take full responsibility for cleaning. As children grow, they can gradually become more involved.

At Tooth Fairy, we recommend starting with the basics: a soft toothbrush, a small amount of fluoride toothpaste and a calm, consistent routine. Children need time to get used to the sensation, while parents need a comfortable position that lets them see the teeth clearly.

When to Start Brushing Baby Teeth

The first tooth is your cue to begin, rather than a particular age. Some babies get their first tooth earlier than others. Once it comes through the gum, brush it twice a day.

Before teeth appear, you can gently wipe the gums with clean, damp gauze or a soft cloth. Once a tooth erupts, use a toothbrush to remove plaque from its surface.

Introducing brushing early helps make it a familiar part of everyday life. Do not wait until your child starts eating sweets or you can see plaque on their teeth.

How to Brush a Baby’s Teeth Before Their First Birthday

For the first teeth, choose a baby toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. It should fit comfortably inside the mouth and allow you to reach each tooth.

When brushing:

1. Position your baby securely, with their head supported and their mouth clearly visible.

2. Apply a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice.

3. Gently lift the lip so you can see the tooth near the gumline.

4. Clean the outer and inner surfaces with short, gentle movements.

5. Once the back teeth appear, clean their chewing surfaces too.

Do not press hard or force the mouth wide open. If your baby becomes upset, pause briefly, reassure them and continue.

Babies cannot spit out toothpaste yet. This makes using the correct small amount particularly important. Do not let your baby suck toothpaste from the tube.

How to Brush a One-Year-Old’s Teeth

At one year old, an adult should still brush the child’s teeth. Your toddler can hold a second toothbrush, copy your movements or have a turn, but a parent needs to finish the cleaning.

You may find it comfortable to sit your child on your lap or stand behind them in front of a mirror, supporting their head. Choose a secure position that lets you see all the teeth.

Follow the same sequence each time, such as cleaning the upper teeth first and then the lower teeth. Remember the inner surfaces and the area along the gumline.

If your child wants to do everything independently, take turns: “You have a go first, then I’ll help finish.” This gives them a chance to learn while ensuring their teeth are cleaned thoroughly.

How to Brush Children’s Teeth Correctly

The aim is to clean every tooth surface without hurting the gums. Fast, forceful scrubbing is unnecessary.

Follow a simple sequence:

• Clean the outer surfaces of the upper and lower teeth with short, gentle movements, paying attention to the gumline.

• Move to the inner surfaces. These are easy to miss, especially behind the lower front teeth.

• Clean the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.

• Check the teeth furthest back, which children often struggle to reach themselves.

Give extra attention to the first permanent molars as they erupt. These appear behind the baby teeth, so parents may not notice them straight away.

Brush twice a day: last thing before bed and on one other occasion. Aim for about two minutes for a full brushing session. If your baby has only a few teeth, focus on cleaning each one thoroughly rather than trying to reach two minutes at all costs.

Which Toothbrush and Toothpaste to Choose

Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. Age labels can help, but the brush also needs to fit your child’s mouth comfortably.

Manual and electric toothbrushes can both work well. If choosing an electric brush, follow its age guidance and the manufacturer’s instructions. It does not replace adult help: a child may spend a long time on the front teeth while missing other areas.

Use fluoride toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay. Check the fluoride concentration on the packaging rather than relying only on the word “children’s”. Toothpaste containing at least 1,000 ppm fluoride is generally used for young children, while children aged seven and over usually use 1,350–1,500 ppm. Your dentist can recommend a suitable concentration based on your child’s risk of decay.

Avoid whitening toothpastes for children and strongly flavoured products if they cause discomfort.

How Much Toothpaste Does a Child Need?

A young child does not need a strip of toothpaste covering the whole brush. The amount depends on age, and an adult should apply it for younger children.

Once your child can do so, encourage them to spit out excess toothpaste. Do not rinse with water immediately afterwards, as this washes away fluoride remaining on the teeth.

Keep the tube out of your young child’s reach. Toothpaste is for cleaning teeth, so do not let them eat it or lick it from the brush.

How to Teach a Child to Brush Their Teeth

Learning comes through repetition. Children often accept brushing more easily when it happens at a predictable time and follows a familiar sequence.

Try these approaches:

• Brush together so your child sees it as a normal part of family life.

• Let them choose between two suitable toothbrushes.

• Demonstrate the movements on a toy or dental model, then repeat them when brushing.

• Use a short song or timer.

• Let your child have a turn, then help them finish.

• Praise a specific action: “You opened your mouth really well” or “We cleaned the back teeth too.”

  

Do not expect perfect technique immediately. Your child first gets used to brushing, then learns the movements and gradually takes on more responsibility.

What to Do If Your Child Refuses to Brush

Refusal is not always about being difficult. Your child may be tired, dislike the toothpaste flavour, feel uncomfortable in their position or have a sore mouth.

First, check whether the bristles have become rough, the brush head is too large or the toothpaste causes irritation. If your child suddenly refuses a previously familiar routine, look for signs of a problem with the teeth or gums.

To make brushing less stressful:

• move evening brushing a little earlier, before your child becomes very sleepy;

• explain the next step briefly and calmly;

• offer a choice within the routine, such as which brush or song to use;

• begin with an area your child finds easier to tolerate;

• take short breaks if they help you continue.

Avoid using a visit to the dentist as a threat or making forceful restraint your usual approach. If refusal continues, especially when brushing hurts, ask a pediatric dentist for help.

When Can a Child Brush Their Own Teeth?

Being able to hold a toothbrush does not mean a child can clean every tooth effectively. They may brush the front teeth well but miss the inner surfaces and back teeth.

Children generally need adult help or supervision until at least around seven years old. Some need support for longer. Consider their coordination, attention and the result of brushing.

Gradually let your child do more independently, but check the difficult areas and finish cleaning them when needed. A dentist can show you where plaque remains and how to position the brush more effectively.

Common Mistakes Parents Make

Even with regular brushing, some habits can reduce how well the teeth are cleaned.

• Waiting until all the baby teeth have appeared before starting.

• Using a hard toothbrush or pressing too firmly.

• Applying too much toothpaste.

• Cleaning mainly the front teeth and missing the inner surfaces.

• Stopping adult help as soon as the child wants to brush alone.

• Replacing brushing with mouthwash.

• Leaving evening brushing until the child is exhausted.

• Continuing to use a toothbrush with badly splayed bristles.

Replace the toothbrush about every three months, or sooner if the bristles become worn. Rinse it after use and leave it to air-dry. Each family member should have their own toothbrush.

When to Ask a Dentist for Help

Arrange an examination if your child has recurring bleeding during brushing, pain, sensitivity, persistent bad breath, white or brown spots, or a visible cavity.

Brushing cannot repair an established cavity. If the dentist finds decay, they will assess whether your child needs cavity treatment and explain the next steps.

During an appointment with a pediatric dentist at Tooth Fairy, you can also get help choosing a toothbrush and toothpaste, checking brushing technique and managing resistance.

Preventive visits are useful before symptoms appear. Getting familiar with the dentist early also gives parents an opportunity to ask questions about everyday care.

Sources

1. American Dental Association. Toothbrushes.

2. American Dental Association. Fluoride: Topical and Systemic Supplements.

3. NHS. Children’s teeth.

4. NHS. How to take care of your baby or toddler’s teeth.

5. Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme. Toothbrushing.

Images in this article: a mother helping her baby brush their teeth — MART PRODUCTION, Pexels; a mother and daughter holding toothbrushes — Pavel Danilyuk, Pexels. Both photos used under the Pexels License, resized and converted to WebP.