Cleaning children’s teeth can often seem a daunting challenge. However, there are ways that you can make the experience just that little bit easier.

Children can be nervous about anything new, including sights, sounds and smells. Therefore, it is important to get started as soon as possible. When their first tooth comes through make sure that you clean it last thing at night and one other time during the day using a toothpaste that contains at least 1000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. We recommend cleaning by wiping the new teeth, as they erupt, with a little cloth.

And we recommend that your baby has their first dental visit before the age of one year, helping to make sure the experience becomes a natural, regular part of everyday life.

Some people may not think to take their child to the dentist until their adult teeth start to come through. However, baby or milk teeth are very important, and losing them early, due to dental decay, can have a detrimental effect. It can affect eating, speech, smiling and confidence. The permanent teeth may also ‘come through’ in the wrong position, causing the need for orthodontic treatment (braces) at a later stage.

It is important to supervise your child’s brushing until they are at least seven. If you brush their teeth initially, you can then let them have a go themselves. This will help them develop their own brushing technique.

You could let them pick out their own brush to make it more enjoyable. There are many different types of children’s toothbrushes, including brightly coloured brushes, some that change colour, some with favourite characters on the handle and some with a timer. These all encourage children to brush their teeth. The most important thing is to use a small-headed toothbrush with soft, nylon bristles, suitable for the age of your child.

You should ideally be brushing your child’s teeth for at least two minutes twice a day with a toothpaste that contains an amount of fluoride suitable for their age. All children up to three years old should use a smear of toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm. After three years old, they should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste that contains 1,350ppm to 1,500ppm. You can check the level of fluoride on the packaging.

As soon as they are responsible enough and their adult teeth have come through, probably around the age of 10-12 years old, you can also start to introduce them to interdental cleaning and flossing.

Please ask your dentist for advice!