Tooth Care

Help your children brush their teeth twice a day. They need your help until they’re about six years old, and have the manual skills to do a proper job themselves.
When brushing, use a special children’s toothbrush, small with extra soft bristles.
Always use gentle pressure, as brushing too hard can damage the gums.
Use a junior-strength toothpaste until they’re about six. This has a mild flavour, it’s low foaming and lower in fluoride if they swallow it by accident.
Teach them how to rinse and spit, so they don’t swallow the toothpaste.
Night time brushing is the most important, so don’t be tempted to let your children have a snack in bed. A bottle, a glass of milk, or even an apple, can undo all your good work.
Try not to give too many snacks between meals — and when you do, encourage savoury ones, like fruit and raw vegetables.
When you serve fruit juice or cordial, it is best to give it well diluted. It is also good to give it with some food rather than by itself, because the saliva produced from chewing will help to get rid of the sugar and neutralise the acids causing decay.

For more information on looking after your child’s teeth, visit this helpful page from Macleans.