Pea-sized amount of fluoride-containing toothpaste 2x/day
Parent performs or supervises
> 6 years
Brush with fluoridated toothpaste 2x/day
One of the most obvious steps to optimizing oral hygiene is to encourage parents to clean or brush their young child’s teeth twice daily. Parents can be encouraged to begin wiping the gums of even a very small infant with a soft washcloth or soft toothbrush, even prior to tooth eruption, because this will help to establish a daily oral hygiene routine for the child.
Toothbrushes for infants and toddlers should be soft and have a small head, but a large handle because parents must “do” the toothbrushing until about age 6 years. Younger children do not have the hand coordination necessary to be independent toothbrushers prior to that age.
Parents can also consider using electric toothbrushes. They are especially useful in situations of limited movement because they do the work for you, they position well, and the small head can help limit the amount of toothpaste to appropriate amounts for children.
