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Brushing is the everyday habit at the heart of a healthy smile. Here is what brushing actually does, what to use, how much toothpaste, and how to make it part of the day — for kids to explore and for grown-ups to read alongside them.
All day long a soft, sticky film builds up on teeth. It is called plaque, and it is full of germs. A toothbrush wipes that film away, and removing it is what stops those germs leading to decay.
Plaque is hard to see, but you can feel it. Run your tongue across your teeth before you brush, then again afterwards. Feel the difference?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says that drinking fluoridated water and brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day are the most effective ways to reduce how many cavities children get.
The right toothbrush is a small one with soft bristles. Bigger and firmer is not better.
The amount changes as your child grows, and it is smaller than most people expect.
A tiny smear, about the size of a grain of rice. Start as soon as the first tooth appears.
A pea-sized amount. A grown-up should still do the brushing, or help with it.
Children should spit out any extra toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
Young children do not yet have the coordination to brush their own teeth well. The AAPD is direct about this: for children aged three to six, a grown-up should either do the brushing or actively help with it.
There is no single birthday that fits every child. AAPD guidance is that young children cannot brush effectively on their own, and that parents should perform or assist with brushing through the preschool years. Your pediatric dentist can watch how your child brushes and tell you when they are ready, and can recommend a brushing and flossing routine for you to supervise at home.
From birth, clean your baby’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or a clean cloth and water. As soon as the first tooth appears, start brushing twice a day with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate brush.
A tiny smear, about the size of a grain of rice, for children under three. A pea-sized amount from three to six years old.
Children should spit out any extra toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
When the first tooth appears, and no later than your child’s first birthday. The AAPD recommends establishing a dental home within six months of the first tooth coming through, and by twelve months at the latest.
This is very common, and it is worth raising at your next appointment rather than battling it alone. Your pediatric dentist can recommend a brushing and flossing routine for you to supervise and teach at home, suited to your own child.
Every clinical statement on this page comes from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Last updated 8 August 2026.
This website is for education only and does not replace care from your dentist, physician, or emergency services.