Brushing advice has changed significantly over the past decade, and what your parents did — or what the back of the toothpaste tube says — isn't always what the evidence supports now. Here is what Dr. Bhuvanesswari recommends at each stage of childhood.
Before the first tooth (birth onwards)
Clean your baby's gums after feeds with a clean, damp cloth or a soft silicone finger brush. This clears milk residue, introduces the habit of mouth cleaning before any teeth appear, and helps your baby get used to having something in their mouth. It takes about 30 seconds.
First tooth to age 3
As soon as the first tooth appears, start brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled infant toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste — the size of a grain of rice. This is a smaller amount than most parents expect, but the evidence is clear that this amount is safe and effective for very young children.
At this age, you are doing the brushing. Hold your baby with their head resting against your body, or lie them on a changing mat. Brush for two minutes, covering all surfaces of every tooth. Don't rinse after — letting the fluoride stay on the teeth is part of how it works.
Ages 3–6
Move up to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Continue brushing for your child twice a day, but start letting them "have a go" afterwards — it helps them build the habit and motor skill, but don't count on their brushing as the actual clean.
At this stage: no rinsing after brushing, or only a brief spit (not a full rinse with water). An electric toothbrush is fine and often more effective for wiggly children.
Ages 6–9
Children at this age are developing the motor control to brush independently, but most don't do it well until they're closer to 9 or 10. The rule most pediatric dentists use: supervise and check until your child can write in cursive — a proxy for the fine motor control brushing actually needs.
A timer (two minutes), a disclosing tablet once a week (they show where plaque is left behind), and a parent check after brushing all help at this age.
Ages 9 and older
By around 9–10, most children can brush independently and effectively — but reinforcement helps. Electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors are excellent for this age group; they remove plaque more consistently and prevent brushing too hard (which damages enamel and gums).
Flossing becomes important once teeth are touching — usually from around age 6–7, but this varies. We will advise at the check-up.
A few things that matter more than people realise
- Brush last thing at night, every night. Night-time saliva flow drops, so teeth are more vulnerable. The morning brush matters, but the night brush is the critical one.
- Don't let your child eat or drink anything (except water) after the last brush of the day.
- Brush time matters more than brush technique. Two minutes of imperfect brushing is better than 30 seconds of perfect brushing.
- Replace the toothbrush every three months, or sooner after illness.