Brushing a Child's Teeth
Topic Overview
Clean your baby's mouth and gums with a soft cloth or gauze pad. When your child’s first teeth come in, continue cleaning them with a soft cloth or gauze pad.1 As more teeth come in, clean teeth with a soft toothbrush. Because too much fluoride can be toxic and can stain a child’s teeth, ask your doctor or dentist if it’s okay to use fluoride toothpaste.
Brush your child's teeth twice a day. When your doctor or dentist says it's okay, use a
dab of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a rice grain for children younger than 3 or about the size of a green pea for children older than 3.2 Brush your child's teeth from behind.
- Kneel down behind your child and have him or her
stand between your knees, facing away from you.
- With one hand,
gently press your child's head against your chest.
- With the other
hand, brush his or her teeth. You may also push away the upper and lower lips
to make it easier to get to the teeth.
- Pay special attention to
where the teeth meet the gums.
References
Citations
- Health Canada (2009). Caring for your teeth and mouth: Children. Available online: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/oral-bucco/care-soin/child-enfant-eng.php.
- Canadian Dental Association (2003, revised 2010). CDA position on use of fluorides in caries prevention. Available online: http://www.cda-adc.ca/_files/position_statements/Fluorides-English-2010-06-08.pdf.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry |
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| Last Revised | June 7, 2011 |
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Last Revised:
June 7, 2011
Health Canada (2009). Caring for your teeth and mouth: Children. Available online: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/oral-bucco/care-soin/child-enfant-eng.php.
Canadian Dental Association (2003, revised 2010). CDA position on use of fluorides in caries prevention. Available online: http://www.cda-adc.ca/_files/position_statements/Fluorides-English-2010-06-08.pdf.
