Toothbrushing

Cleaning Babies Mouth                           

Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth from an early age, before their teeth appear. This helps prepare your baby for toothbrushing. Clean your baby’s gums with a clean, soft, wet cloth after feeding and before bed. Start brushing baby teeth with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste as soon as they appear.

Fluoride Toothpaste

Everyone in your family can use the same regular strength fluoride toothpaste. Regular strength toothpaste contains a minimum of 1000 ppm of fluoride.

Look at the ingredients list on the toothpaste packaging. Choose a toothpaste that has either

• 1000ppm of fluoride or

• 0.221% sodium fluoride or

• 0.76% sodium monoflurophosphate 

Toothbrushing 

It is important that a tooth brushing routine is established from an early age. Involve the whole family as role modelling by caregivers can help children to develop tooth brushing skills. 

Building a toothbrushing routine

Helping children brush their teeth

It can be challenging at times to find a position that is comfortable for caregivers when helping a child to brush their teeth. Caregivers may find it more comfortable sitting infants on their lap or standing behind older children.

How to brush teeth

When brushing teeth it is important to brush all the tooth surfaces ( top, bottom inside, outside and the tongue). It can be helpful to focus on brushing one tooth at a time. It should take around 2-3 minutes to brush all the teeth surfaces. You should begin flossing children's teeth once two teeth are touching.

To find out more about toothbrushing and flossing watch these video clips.

• Brushing children's teeth (Ministry of Health / Video)
• Toothbrushing steps for children 6 years and over and adults (Video) 
• Toothbrushing (Animation / Colgate / Video)
• Flossing (Animation / Colgate / Video) 

^{Toothbrushing Tips And Tricks}

• Rewards
  Try a toothbrushing chart. Use non-food rewards like a new toothbrush or family activity.     
• Change the setting
  Brush teeth while children are reading a book, in the bath or playing a quiet game. 
• Let them do it
  Let children have a turn brushing first and then you "check" and finish cleaning teeth.
• Use technology
  Try an electric tooth brush or a toothbrushing app such as The Wiggles or Brush DJ.
• Make if fun
  Sing a song or even dance. Try a timer. Don't be afraid to get silly.
• Change the toothpaste
  Some children don't like strong mint flavours. Try a mild flavoured toothpaste.

^{Toothbrushing Charts and Posters}

• Toothbrushing Poster (Colgate) 
• Flossing Diagram (ADA)
• Rewards And Goal Planning Chart (HealthyKids) 
• ChildSmile Toothbrushing Chart 

^{Toothbrushing Apps}

• Brush Teeth With The Wiggles – Apps on Google Play
• ‎Brush DJ on the App Store (apple.com)                
• Brush DJ - Apps on Google Play 
• ‎My Bright Smile on the App Store (apple.com)     
• My Bright Smile - Apps on Google Play 

^{Toothbrushing Songs}

• The Wiggles : Brush Your Teeth 😁 Healthy Me! 
• Brush to the Beat :  Learn To Brush Your Teeth with Mickey
• Sesame Street : Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me: Brushy Brush 

Watch this video by the Bee Healthy Regional Dental Service which shares toothbrushing hacks for preschoolers.