08/10/2026
Top tips for keeping little smiles healthy!
1. Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears.
Baby teeth matter too! Brush twice a day, with the bedtime brush being particularly important.
2. Use fluoride toothpaste
For children under 3, use a small smear of toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride. From 3–6, use a pea-sized amount of 1,000–1,500ppm fluoride toothpaste. From age 7, 1,350–1,500ppm is recommended.
3. Spit, don't rinse!
Once they've brushed, encourage children to spit out the excess toothpaste rather than rinsing with water. This leaves the protective fluoride on their teeth for longer.
4. Parents: keep helping!
Children generally need help or supervision with brushing until at least age 7. Even when they want to do it themselves, it's worth checking they've reached all those tricky areas.
5. It's not just how much sugar, but how often.
Frequent sugary snacks and drinks throughout the day increase the risk of tooth decay. Try to keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes rather than allowing children to graze on them.
6. Make water the go to drink.
Between meals, water is much kinder to little teeth than juice, squash or fizzy drinks.
7. Don't forget the dentist!
Bring children along from an early age so visiting the dentist becomes a normal part of their routine.
8. Make brushing fun.
A favourite song, a two minute timer, letting them choose their toothbrush or brushing together can all help make twice daily brushing less of a battle.
The biggest tip of all? Start good habits early. Healthy routines established in childhood can help set children up for healthy smiles for life.
