Toothbrushes
- Use a toothbrush with soft, rounded bristles
- Choose the right size for your child’s mouth
Reminder: Bent or worn bristles will not do a good cleaning job and may hurt your child’s gum. You will need to use a new toothbrush at least every 3 or 4 months
Toothpaste
- Use toothpaste that has fluoride. You can check by looking for the Canadian Dental Association symbol. This symbol means the toothpaste has fluoride.
- Use only a bit of toothpaste and make sure your child spits it out.
Remember: If young children swallow too much toothpaste they can get dental fluorosis. Children under 6 years of age should be supervised during brushing and only use a small amount of toothpaste.
Children under 3 years of age
- Should have their teeth brushed by an adult
- Check with a health professional if your child is at risk of developing tooth decay
- If your child is at risk, then use fluoridated toothpaste (size of a rice)
- If the risk is low, the teeth should be brushed by an adult using a toothbrush moistened only with water.
Children from 3 to 6 years of age
- Should be assisted by an adult in brushing their teeth.
- Only a small amount (a portion the size of a green pea) of fluoridated toothpaste should be used.
For more tips on how to brush your child’s teeth, see:
