Brushing For Beginners
Tooth care basics
There’s no real mystery to looking after young children’s teeth and gums. There are just a few simple rules to follow.
Diet – Limit sugary foods and acidic drinks to mealtimes. In your child’s first few years, you might want to avoid cakes, biscuits and fizzy drinks completely.
Brushing – From 0-3 years, you should brush your child’s teeth carefully twice a day using a pea-sized amount of a children’s fluoride toothpaste. To find out the best way to brush, just check out our Brushing Demo
Dentist visits – As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, start taking them to the dentist. It is a good idea to take your child to the dentist regularly so you can catch any problems before they appear or become painful.
When to start brushing
Plaque starts forming as soon as there’s a tooth surface for it to grow on. So it’s best to start brushing your baby’s teeth with a fluoride toothpaste such as Aquafresh Milk Teeth toothpaste (unless your dentist recommends a higher-fluoride toothpaste) and a soft bristled brush such as Aquafresh Milk Teeth toothbrush as soon as they appear.
That way, they’ll have the benefit of fluoride protection right from the start. And they’ll get used to brushing as a daily routine.
Brushing tips
You should start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as they appear. This might be easier said than done, but even if you don’t quite manage to give their teeth a proper clean at first, it’s still important to get them used to having a toothbrush and toothpaste in their mouth.
Here are a few ways you can make brushing your 0-3 year old’s teeth a little easier.
- Sit your child on your lap when you brush their teeth. Once they get older, you can stand behind them.
- Tilt their head up a little
- Clean each tooth with a gentle circular motion
- Make sure you clean all the surfaces of their teeth and clean right up to the gum line
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, such as the Aquafresh Milk Teeth toothbrush
- Use a pea-sized amount of a children’s fluoride toothpaste such as Aquafresh Milk Teeth toothpaste (unless your dentist recommends a toothpaste with more fluoride)
- After brushing, try to encourage your child to spit – but not rinse. That way the fluoride can continue to protect their teeth.
For a more info on the best way to brush, just take a look at our Brushing Demo.
Your child’s first toothbrush
Children’s teeth and gums are much more delicate that adults’, and because their mouths and hands are still quite small, they’ll need a toothbrush that’s been made specifically for their needs.
Designed especially for 0-3 year olds, the Aquafresh Milk Teeth toothbrush is the smallest in the range and gentle on young gums.
Aquafresh Milk Teeth Toothbrush
- Blue indicator bristles to guide you on how much toothpaste to apply
- Rubber cushioning on the back of the brush-head to help protect tender gums
- A flexible neck that bends to absorb pressure, helping reduce the risk of damage to gums