Once the first little tooth appears, it is time for a toothbrush. You can keep the routine simple: a small soft brush, gentle cleaning of every tooth surface and an adult doing the brushing twice a day.
Baby teeth help with eating and speaking and hold space for the adult teeth. They can develop decay while your child is still very young, so they need care even though they will eventually fall out.
Choose a small, soft toothbrush
Use a child-sized brush with soft bristles and a small head that fits comfortably in your baby’s mouth. Choose a handle you can control easily. A damp cloth can clean gums before teeth appear, but begin using a toothbrush when there is a tooth to clean.
Letting your baby hold a second brush can make the routine feel more familiar. They still need you to clean their teeth properly. Keep them supported and supervise the brush rather than letting them wander around with it in their mouth.
Use the right toothpaste for their age and risk
Usual Australian guidance is:
- Under 18 months: brush with water, without toothpaste, unless a dental practitioner recommends otherwise after assessing decay risk.
- From 18 months to under six years: use a small pea-sized amount of low-fluoride children’s toothpaste, usually 500–550 ppm fluoride, under adult supervision.
- From six years: use an age-appropriate standard-strength fluoride toothpaste, following dental advice and the label.
Some children need fluoride toothpaste earlier or a different strength. Ask your dentist, particularly if your child has decay, other risk factors or limited exposure to fluoridated water. Do not choose a higher-strength paste yourself or assume a fluoride-free paste provides the same protection.
The Queensland Health fluoride guideline gives the usual age-based approach. The Australian Dental Association’s infant policy explains the risk-based exceptions. Have the dental team show you the amount if the wording on your product or local advice differs.
A step-by-step brushing routine
- Get comfortable. Sit with your baby supported on your lap, with their head steady and your view of the mouth clear. For an older toddler, sitting or standing behind them can help. Ask your dentist to demonstrate a position that works for you.
- Prepare the brush. Wet the soft bristles. Use water alone or the age-appropriate amount of toothpaste described above. An adult should dispense the paste.
- Lift the lip gently. Move the lip or cheek just enough to see the teeth. Do not force their mouth open.
- Clean the outside surfaces. Use small, gentle circular movements along the teeth and gumline.
- Clean the inside and chewing surfaces. Work around every tooth on the top and bottom. Avoid hard scrubbing or pushing the brush far back into the mouth.
- Finish without rinsing away fluoride. Once toothpaste is used, encourage your child to spit it out when they can. Do not have them rinse with water. Do not let them lick or eat the paste.
You can see the brushing sequence in NSW Health’s Little Smiles guide. The Queensland Health brushing guide also covers technique and adult help.
How long and how often?
Brush morning and night, including before bed. With just one or two baby teeth, focus on reaching every surface rather than keeping a toothbrush in the mouth for a full two minutes. Gradually work towards about two minutes as more teeth appear.
Keep helping as your child grows. Children commonly need an adult to brush or finish brushing until about eight years, and some need support longer. Letting them take a turn is useful practice; it does not replace a thorough adult clean.
If your baby resists
Try a time when they are calm rather than already overtired. Use a familiar song, show them your own brushing or let them choose between two suitable brushes. Keep your movements slow and praise their cooperation.
If brushing becomes a struggle, pause, settle them and try again. Do not pin them down or force a brush into a tightly closed mouth. If a brush is temporarily not tolerated, a clean damp cloth can help clean the teeth while you seek advice and work back towards brushing.
Persistent distress, gagging, bleeding or pain deserves a dental check. Ask for an individual approach if your child has sensory differences, swallowing difficulties or other additional needs. Metro North Health has practical ideas for positioning and reluctant brushers.
Look after the brush and the spaces between teeth
Give each child their own brush. Rinse it after use and let it air-dry. Replace it when the bristles are worn or splayed, and about every three months. Store toothpaste where young children cannot help themselves.
Once two teeth touch side by side, ask your dentist to show you how to floss between them. A baby does not need mouthwash as a substitute for brushing. The ADA baby oral-health guide explains when flossing becomes useful.
When brushing needs professional help
Arrange a dental check for white, brown or black spots that do not brush off, ongoing gum bleeding, a broken tooth or mouth pain. Do not scrub harder to remove a mark. Facial swelling or pus needs urgent assessment; breathing or swallowing difficulty is an emergency, so call 000.
Book the first dental visit when the first tooth appears or by the first birthday, whichever comes first. For the early-care timeline, see when to start brushing and arrange the first check.