Brushing and Flossing

Starting a routine early is a great way to develop healthy habits as well as giving your child the best chance for healthy teeth.

Brushing should be done twice a day.

When should you brush your teeth?

In the morning after breakfast and before going to bed at night. Bedtime is the best time to floss.

Age 0-18 months

Find a comfortable position for you and your baby. It can be lying on the floor, safely on a bed or change table, on your lap or high chair.

Even before your baby’s teeth appear in the mouth, wipe the gums gently with a clean damp face washer to prepare your baby for toothbrushing.

As soon as your child’s first tooth appears in the mouth, gently brush using a small soft toothbrush without toothpaste or a clean damp face washer to wipe each tooth. Once a child has two or more teeth touching side-by-side, parents should start flossing their children’s teeth.

If your child doesn’t like having their teeth or gums brushed, distract them by giving them a toy to hold or singing a favourite song while brushing their teeth.

Age 18 months-7-9 years

The parent or guardian brushes the child’s teeth up to age of 7-9 years of age. As your child becomes more independent, let them brush their teeth however the Parent must complete the cleaning of the teeth. A good guide as to the time frame when parents can handover brushing to their children is when your child starts using a pen at school instead of a pencil. This age can vary from between 7-9 years of age.

Brush your child’s teeth using a small, soft toothpaste with a pea sized amount of low fluoride toothpaste. Choose a position where you can see each surface of your child’s tooth while you are cleaning. Try different positions to see which best suits you and your child. One approach is to sit the child in your lap, facing away from you.  Tilt the child's head back against your body so you can see all the surfaces of the teeth.

Ask your child to spit out the excess low fluoride toothpaste and not rinse with water. Leaving the toothpaste residue on your teeth is a really great way to give your teeth some extra ongoing protection. The excess low fluoride toothpaste is not to be swallowed.

After brushing, the parent flosses each tooth. If flossing is omitted in the child’s oral hygiene routine, the retention of plaque in between each tooth puts the surface of each tooth in that location at risk of tooth decay and gum inflammation. Flossing every night before bed is equally important as brushing.

Brushing technique

Following a routine is a great way to remain consistent when brushing to ensure all surfaces are cleaned. Brush each section at a time. Do not brush upper and lower teeth simultaneously.

Brush the outside and inside surfaces of the child’s teeth and gums using gentle circles. Start with the upper left side of the mouth until you progress to the front teeth. Next, proceed to the upper right side of the mouth until you progress to the front teeth.

After completing upper inner and outside surfaces of the teeth, repeat this pattern with the lower teeth.

Finally use a light back and forth motion to brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth both in the upper and lower jaws as well as the back of the upper and lower front teeth.

Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months or when the bristles become worn or frayed.

Tips to help make brushing fun

Create a tooth brushing chart

Play music while brushing.

Let the child have a go at brushing their teeth.

Be a role model. Let your child watch you brushing your teeth.

Let your child chose their own-coloured toothbrush.