A Q and A on Children's Teeth

Looking after teeth from the first tooth through to the permanent dentition.

Key takeaways

• Start brushing: as soon as the first tooth appears
• Fluoride, under 3: a smear of toothpaste with at least 1,000 ppm
• Most useful single change: Brush twice daily from the first tooth, supervised until about seven.
• Commonest mistake: Sugary drinks in bottles or sippy cups, particularly at bedtime.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

What is Children's Teeth?

Looking after teeth from the first tooth through to the permanent dentition.

Why does it matter?

Tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admission in young children in England, and it is almost entirely preventable.

Start brushing for Children's Teeth?

As soon as the first tooth appears.

Fluoride, under 3 for Children's Teeth?

A smear of toothpaste with at least 1,000 ppm.

Fluoride, 3 to 6 for Children's Teeth?

A pea-sized amount.

Supervise brushing for Children's Teeth?

Until about age 7.

What is the single most useful thing to do?

Brush twice daily from the first tooth, supervised until about seven.

What is the most common mistake?

Sugary drinks in bottles or sippy cups, particularly at bedtime.

When should I see a doctor?

See a dentist promptly for any dark spot, hole, or pain in a child's tooth. Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever with toothache, or a knocked-out permanent tooth — reimplantation is time-critical, so keep the tooth in milk and seek dental help immediately. Never attempt to reimplant a baby tooth.

Where to go next

• The First Steps With Children's Teeth
• Children's Teeth: The Quick Reference
• Children's Teeth — the reference entry
• The Evidence on Mouth Cancer Awareness, Without the Hype
• Dry Mouth: What Published Guidance Supports

When to speak to a doctor

See a dentist promptly for any dark spot, hole, or pain in a child's tooth. Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever with toothache, or a knocked-out permanent tooth — reimplantation is time-critical, so keep the tooth in milk and seek dental help immediately. Never attempt to reimplant a baby tooth.

Where this comes from

• NHS — Looking after children's teeth
• Delivering Better Oral Health — toolkit

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.