Children's Teeth: The Quick Reference
Children's Teeth: the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
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.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Start brushing | as soon as the first tooth appears |
| Fluoride, under 3 | a smear of toothpaste with at least 1,000 ppm |
| Fluoride, 3 to 6 | a pea-sized amount |
| Supervise brushing | until about age 7 |
| First dental visit | by the first birthday |
In one paragraph
Tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admission in young children in England, and it is almost entirely preventable.
Worth doing
- Brush twice daily from the first tooth, supervised until about seven
- Take children to the dentist by their first birthday; NHS care is free
- Give only milk or water between meals
- Move from bottle to free-flow cup from around six months
Worth avoiding
- Sugary drinks in bottles or sippy cups, particularly at bedtime
- Letting children rinse after brushing
- Sugary snacks between meals
Where to go next
- The First Steps With Children's Teeth
- A Q and A on Children's Teeth
- 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.
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