Establishing great oral hygiene habits early is one of the best health investments you can make for your child. Primary (baby) teeth matter enormously — they hold space for permanent teeth and support speech development and nutrition.
When to Start
Begin cleaning your baby's gums with a damp cloth even before teeth emerge. When the first tooth appears (usually around 6 months), start brushing with a soft infant toothbrush and a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste. Schedule your child's first dental visit by their first birthday.
Making It Fun
Let children choose their toothbrush and toothpaste flavour. Use a two-minute sand timer or a brushing app with music. Brush alongside your child — they learn by watching. Praise and positive reinforcement are far more effective than negative attention around dental care.
Nutrition for Healthy Teeth
Limit juice to mealtimes and avoid putting children to bed with anything other than water. Frequent snacking on sugary or starchy foods increases cavity risk significantly — it's the frequency, not just the quantity, that matters.
Sealants and Fluoride
Dental sealants — thin protective coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth — reduce cavity risk by up to 80% in school-age children. Combined with regular fluoride treatments, they provide powerful protection during the cavity-prone years.
