Your child's dental health is shaped far more by daily habits at home than by anything that happens in our surgery. The brushing routine, the diet, the attitude toward dental visits — these are the things that matter most.
Key takeaways
- Start brushing with a smear of fluoride toothpaste from the first tooth — twice daily, with nothing but water after the bedtime brush.
- Book your child's first dental visit around age 1–2 as a relaxed "happy visit" — no treatment, just a gentle introduction.
- Tooth decay is driven by sugar frequency, not quantity — keep sugary food and drink to mealtimes only.
- A knocked-out adult tooth is urgent: pick it up by the crown, place it in milk, and call us straight away.
In this guidetap to open
The timeline — what happens when
Birth to 6 months. Wipe gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeds. No bottles of milk or juice in bed.
First tooth (usually around 6 months). Start brushing with a smear of fluoride toothpaste (1000ppm), using a soft baby brush, twice daily. Nothing except water after the bedtime brush.
Age 1–2 — first dental visit. Book a "happy visit" — no treatment, just a gentle introduction. The dentist will count teeth, check development and chat with you about diet and brushing. Bring a favourite toy. Keep the tone relaxed and normal.
Age 2–3. Move to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste (1000–1350ppm fluoride). Continue brushing for them — children can't brush effectively alone until around age 7. Limit sugary snacks to mealtimes only.
Age 3–5. Check-ups every 6–12 months depending on risk. Fluoride varnish twice yearly. Start teaching them to spit — don't rinse after brushing, so the fluoride can keep working.
Age 6 — first adult molars arrive
These appear behind the baby teeth at the back, and parents often miss them. Ask about fissure sealants — a painless coating that prevents decay in the grooves. These are permanent teeth — they need to last 70+ years.
Age 6–7. Children can start brushing independently, but supervise until you're confident they're reaching every surface. Switch to family toothpaste (1350–1500ppm fluoride). Electric brushes are fine from this age.
Age 10–14. Most baby teeth replaced by adult teeth. Alignment concerns become visible — we'll monitor and refer to orthodontics if needed. Talk to teenagers about the effects of fizzy, energy and sports drinks on enamel.
Brushing — the rules that actually matter
How long. 2 minutes, twice daily. Use a timer or an electric brush with one built in.
When. Morning (after breakfast) and last thing before bed. Nothing except water after the bedtime brush — this is the most important brush of the day.
Technique. Gentle circles, angling the brush toward the gum line. Cover every surface — front, back and chewing.
Toothpaste amount:
- Under 3: a smear
- Age 3–6: a pea-sized blob
- Age 6+: a pea-sized to small strip
The spit-don't-rinse rule
After brushing, spit out excess toothpaste but don't rinse with water or mouthwash. The fluoride continues to protect teeth after brushing — rinsing washes it away.
Replace the brush every 3 months, or sooner if the bristles are splayed.
Diet — the biggest factor parents can control
Tooth decay is caused by sugar frequency, not sugar quantity.
A child who eats 5 sweets in 5 minutes causes less damage than a child who eats 1 sweet every hour — because each sugar exposure triggers a 30-minute acid attack on enamel.
The safe list:
- Water (the only completely safe drink for teeth)
- Plain milk
- Cheese (actually helps neutralise acid)
- Crunchy vegetables and fruits eaten at mealtimes
- Bread, rice, pasta, meat, fish, eggs
The caution list — limit to mealtimes only:
- Fruit juice (even "no added sugar" — natural sugars are still sugar to teeth)
- Dried fruit (concentrated sugar that sticks to teeth)
- Yoghurts with added sugar
- Cereal bars, biscuits, cakes
- Smoothies
The danger list — avoid between meals entirely:
- Fizzy drinks (including diet — the acid erodes enamel even without sugar)
- Sweets, lollipops, toffee
- Fruit shoots, squash, flavoured water
- Energy drinks (extremely acidic — a growing problem in teenagers)
The golden rule
Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes. Between meals, only water. This gives teeth time to recover between acid attacks.
Emergencies — what to do when things go wrong
Knocked-out baby tooth. Do not try to put it back in — this can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Control bleeding with a clean cloth and call us for advice.
Knocked-out adult tooth — urgent
Pick up the tooth by the crown (white part), never the root. If clean, try to place it back in the socket and hold it there gently. If you can't reposition it, place it in milk (not water). Call us immediately — replantation is most successful within 30 minutes.
Chipped or broken tooth. Save any pieces. Rinse the mouth gently with warm water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, then call us to book an urgent appointment.
Toothache. Give age-appropriate pain relief (ibuprofen or paracetamol — not aspirin for children). Rinse with warm salt water if the child is old enough not to swallow. Persistent toothache usually indicates decay that needs treatment.
Bitten lip or tongue. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth and use a cold compress. If bleeding doesn't stop within 15 minutes, seek medical attention.
Quick-reference checklist
Every day
- Brush twice — morning and bedtime (supervised until age 7)
- Spit, don't rinse after brushing
- Only water between meals
- No bottles or sippy cups of milk or juice in bed
Every 3 months
- Replace toothbrush
Every 6 months
- Dental check-up
- Hygienist visit (if recommended)
- Fluoride varnish application
Key ages to remember
- Age 1–2: first dental visit
- Age 6: first adult molars → ask about fissure sealants
- Age 6–7: child starts brushing independently (with supervision)
- Age 10–14: orthodontic assessment if needed
Book your child's appointment.
We genuinely enjoy working with children — no judgement if things aren't perfect, no guilt, just honest advice. Children's appointments are 20–30 minutes. Private new patient (child) consultation from £29.
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Written by the clinical team at North Street Dental Practice, Bourne. Reviewed May 2026.