When do children use toothpaste

Dental care: cleaning toddler teeth and gums Toddler teeth need cleaning twice a day — in the morning and before bed. Angle the bristles of the toothbrush towards the gum. Move the brush in gentle circles to clean the outer and inner sides of the teeth and gums. Brush back and forth on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Encourage your child to brush without swallowing. When your child starts using toothpaste, get him to spit it out.

Pretend the toothbrush is a train. Store the toothbrush upright in an open container to allow it to air-dry. You should replace toothbrushes every months, or when the bristles get worn or frayed. Ears Hearing aids 5 ways to prevent hearing loss. Look after your eyes Eye health tips for older people Laser eye surgery Contact lens safety. Take care of your teeth and gums Children's teeth Sweets, fizzy drinks and bottles Lifestyle tips for healthy teeth How to keep your teeth clean Dental check-ups Fear of the dentist Dental treatments Braces and orthodontics Teeth facts and figures The health risks of gum disease Teeth whitening.

Mental health and wellbeing. Summer health Sunscreen and sun safety How to get vitamin D from sunlight Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather. Keep warm, keep well. The best kind of brush is soft, with rounded bristles. It should be the right size for your child's mouth. You will need to buy a new toothbrush at least every 3 or 4 months. Children can be hard on toothbrushes. If the bristles get bent or worn down, they will not do a good job, and may hurt your child's gums.

Make sure the toothpaste has fluoride. Check the box or tube for the symbol of the Canadian Dental Association. This symbol means the toothpaste has fluoride. Use only a bit of toothpaste and make sure your child spits it out. As excessive swallowing of toothpaste by young children may result in dental fluorosis, children under 6 years of age should be supervised during brushing and only use a small amount of toothpaste.

Children under 3 years of age should have their teeth brushed by an adult. The use of fluoridated toothpaste in this age group is determined by the level of risk. Parents should consult a health professional to determine whether a child up to 3 years of age is at risk of developing tooth decay. If such a risk exists, the child's teeth should be brushed by an adult using a minimal amount a portion the size of a grain of rice of fluoridated toothpaste.

But remember, the earlier the better. Fluoride works best on teeth enamel. You should only need a tiny amount for children. Once this happens, you can use a rice grain amount of toothpaste. Pediatric dentists usually recommend less concentrated levels of fluoride in toothpaste suited for children. Shop for baby-friendly toothpaste brands. Toothpaste should be used together with a soft-bristled toothbrush suitable for tender baby teeth and gums.

Brushing with toothpaste, in particular, should be regularly done twice a day. Encourage your children to brush their teeth gently over a two minutes and spit the toothpaste out.