Getting the best from toothbrushing for children under 7 years
- Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears
- Brush twice daily with adult fluoride toothpaste which contains at least 1,350 ppm* fluoride; last thing at night and on one other occasion
- Children under 3 should use only a smear of toothpaste
- Children aged 3-6 years should use no more than a pea sized amount of toothpaste
- Do not allow children to eat or lick the toothpaste from the tube
- Children should be supervised when brushing
- Encourage children to spit out after brushing, and try not to rinse with large amounts of water
- Avoid ‘children’s’ toothpaste with very low levels of fluoride
Getting the best from toothbrushing for older children and adults
- Brush twice daily; last thing at night and on one other occasion
- Only use adult toothpaste which contains at least 1350 ppm* fluoride
- Spit out after brushing, but do not rinse with large amounts of water
- Brush all tooth surfaces carefully in turn
- Use a brush with a small head and compact bristles that are arranged with long and short filaments
- For gum health consider a toothpaste containing Triclosan with co-polymer or Triclosan with zinc citrate
*ppm = parts per million